Federal candidates hoping to represent Banff-Airdrie as its Member of Parliament made their case to voters at the Bert Church Live Theatre on Oct. 8 in an election forum hosted by the Airdrie Chamber of Commerce.
“Around 340 (attendees) would be a fair estimate. For municipal (forums) we’ll have people in the lobby, and for the provincial (forum) there was 350,” Chamber Executive Director Lorna Hunt said. “This was a little less, but that’s pretty normal for politics around here. I thought the quality of the questions were outstanding.”
All four candidates for the riding – Conservative Party candidate and incumbent Blake Richards, NDP candidate Joanne Boissonneault, Liberal Party candidate Marlo Raynolds and Green Party candidate Mike MacDonald – were in attendance at the forum, which was emceed by Airdrie Chamber of Commerce board of directors member Brian Balson.
Richards’ participation in the forum was an early focus following his absence from a Sept. 29 election forum in Canmore, which his campaign staff cited as a scheduling issue.
“Mr. Richards has continually avoided these forums,” Boissonneault said in her introductory statement.
A variety of questions from the audience were posed to candidates, with a mix of written and questions from the floor. An early question focused on how candidates would support innovation and improved business productivity in the riding.
“The big picture is to shift the economy in the way we do things,” MacDonald said. “Trickle-down economics, to me, has failed.”
Raynolds cited a Liberal campaign promise to invest $200 million a year for three years in small business hubs and research facilities as an example of his party’s plan to move the economy forward.
“Innovation is so critical to the future of our economy,” he said.
An issue largely not on the radar of many voters, a question about bulk water exports in Canada – the practice of exporting large quantities of water to other countries – provoked a strong reaction from some in the audience.
During Richards’ response to the question, he cited agreements with more than 40 countries as being an example of how the Conservative government works to strengthen trade in Canada.
Apparently feeling as though Richards had not engaged directly with the question, a number of audience members shouted “water” at the incumbent.
Two questions were posed to candidates asking how they would work to support veterans.
“I’ve been honoured to help funding for our Airdrie Legion,” Richards said, adding the Conservative Party had “invested $5 billion” in programs for Canadian veterans.
But other candidates raised questions as to how the Conservative Party had arrived at that figure of funding.
“We need to make sure that we are funding (veterans) properly, not closing veteran offices,” MacDonald said, referring to the closure of eight district offices last year.
“Did the (Conservative Party) balance the budget, or did they balance the budget at the expense of other programs?” Boissonneault said.
Richards said only the Conservative Party had a plan to pay for campaign promises.
“We would certainly be offering a balanced budget,” he said. “There will be no tax increases.”
The evening concluded with two-minute summations.
“On one hand, you can choose the status quo. You can choose someone (Richards) who flies business class between Calgary and Ottawa,” Raynolds said.
“The Harper government is on its way out. It is tired.”
Richards said an elected Liberal or NDP government would lead to economic decline.
“You, your family and your communities would feel the (economic) consequences (of a Liberal or NDP government),” he said.
Following the forum, Airdrie resident Kim Cheel said she was surprised more people did not attend the event.
“I was surprised there wasn’t as many people out – it must mean people’s minds are already made up,” she said.
“You don’t know how until (October 19) it’s going to go. Perhaps people who aren’t here are going to sway the vote.
“It’s always hard when you don’t see a lot of people at a forum, because then you worry that people aren’t going to vote at all. Or vote informed. Vote whoever you vote, but make sure it’s an informed vote.”
