Eight federal candidates for Ottawa Centre faced off against each other Monday night during an online debate organized by community associations.
The roster included Conservative Party candidate Carol Clemenhagen, Liberal Party candidate Yasir Naqvi, NDP candidate Angella MacEwen, People’s Party of Canada candidate Regina Watteel, Green Party candidate Angela Keller-Herzog, Communist Party candidate Alex McDonald, independent candidate Richard Joyal and Animal Protection Party candidate Shelby Bertrand.
Community
Candidates were asked to review the City of Ottawa’s decision to approve a new Civic hospital on Carling Avenue. The selected site has drawn criticism due to its potential environmental impact on the Central Experimental Farm.
While candidates varied in their positions regarding the decision itself, many echoed similar sentiments on the need for transparent decision-making.
Clemenhagen said timely construction must be prioritized and “petty politics” should not get in the way of residents’ access to a quality hospital. She added that neighbourhood associations have every right to understand the impact of the decision.
MacEwen said the location shows a “pattern of behaviour where politicians side with developers.” She categorized the city’s location decision as opaque. She also said it is possible to have a transparent decision-making process while also building a new hospital.
Keller-Herzog said she would prefer a denser campus with a smaller ecological footprint and would maintain 40 per cent of green space on any new projects.
Naqvi said residents need a new hospital, but they also need a better engagement process. He said he would introduce legislation to protect the Central Experimental Farm from further development.
McDonald said that Tunney’s Pasture would be a better location for the new hospital, adding that he thinks Mayor Jim Watson made a unilateral and undemocratic decision when he approved the project.
Joyal said green space is sacred, but people need a hospital. He promised to conduct a review to ensure the environment would be protected if the hospital was built on its planned location.
Economy
Candidates were next asked about their positions on a universal income program, universal child care and access to post-secondary education.
Naqvi said he supports a universal basic income, but the government would need to run more pilot projects to pursue an evidence-based policy.
Keller-Herzog said she supports a guaranteed livable income. McDonald agreed but said he was concerned about possible cuts to other programs.
Clemenhagen said a universal basic income could be very costly and questioned if a basic income would discourage people from working.
The cost of poverty is more expensive than it would be to end it, MacEwen said, adding that the NDP would provide a guaranteed livable income for seniors and people with disabilities. She said she supports a general income supplement and would work with provinces to ensure other services do not get cut.
Bertrand said she supports an incremental transition to a universal basic income and would like to see it tested in different regions. Watteel said she does not trust the government to administer a basic income equitably.
Joyal said a universal basic income should come into effect as soon as possible, adding the cost of living by region should be considered.
Watteel and Clemenhagen were the only candidates to oppose a national child care program. Clemenhagen said the 75 per cent refundable child care tax credit for lower-income families in the Conservatives’ platform provides flexibility for parents.
Naqvi responded by saying a national program would create new spaces for childcare. A tax credit would not address the lack of quality child care available, he added.
On access to post-secondary education, Naqvi said his record as an MPP showed he can deliver on free access to post-secondary education for low and middle-income students.
Keller-Herzog said Canada should follow Germany’s example to make post-secondary free. MacEwen said the NDP would permanently halt interest for federal student loans. Naqvi agreed that interest for federal loans should be eliminated.
Environment
Candidates were next asked how they would release funding for municipalities to address the climate crisis at a local level.
Clemenhagen said she would work with provinces and municipalities to start reducing greenhouse gas emissions and added that the Conservatives would implement the Paris Agreement target of a 30 per cent reduction in emissions by 2030.
Naqvi said he would work with provinces to support building new net-zero social housing. He said new transportation infrastructure is a critical part of the Liberal climate plan.
“Going back on climate targets is not the way we get out of the climate emergency,” Naqvi said.
The Liberals have committed to a 40 to 45 per cent reduction in emissions by 2030. He said there are accountability measures in the legislation for a net-zero Canada by 2050.
Keller-Herzog dismissed the debate around targets, noting that “climate is complicated but also simple.”
“What Canada needs to do is keep fossil fuels in the ground. We need to stop the expansion of new projects,” she said.
Healthcare
Vaccine passports dominated the dialogue on healthcare.
Clemenhagen said a vaccine passport policy by the Conservative Party would be limited to the federal level to facilitate international travel, and the federal government should be working with provinces to “help people come on board” without excluding others.
Keller-Herzog said the Liberals and the PPC have used vaccines as a wedge issue when it should be understood as the solution to a health crisis.
Watteel said she opposes universities restricting unvaccinated students’ access to campus.
Bertrand, who said she was an immunosuppressed student, said it was ridiculous to talk about healthy people’s freedom without considering others at risk.
“If you think it is so important to not risk people’s jobs, would the People’s Party of Canada release funding for people like me to do all of these things distanced, possibly forever?” Bertrand asked Watteel.
Watteel replied that transmission rates are the same among the vaccinated and unvaccinated.
Moderator Amanda Pfeffer said the Ontario COVID-19 science table has looked into transmission rates among the vaccinated and found those who are vaccinated have lower rates of transmission and hospitalization.
The debate served as one of the final opportunities for Ottawa Centre candidates to pitch themselves to the community before election day on Sept. 20. Electors can register to vote on Elections Canada anytime before polls open on Monday or they can register at a polling station when they arrive to vote.
Featured image from Screengrab.
