Embro All Candidates Debate Gets Heated

Friday, 2 October 2015 07:42

The five candidates discussed the TPP, firearm registry, GMOs, and toeing the party line.

EMBRO - Agriculture was the focus of the latest all candidates debate in Embro.

All five candidates did make it out to this debate. Topics from the evening ranged from pesticide use to how social media will impact decision making within the government.

Liberal Candidate Don McKay would look to bring his agricultural background with him as he vies for the top spot and touched on the Trans Pacific Partnership. "We are standing for the Oxford agriculture so that when you go into the negotiations you fully appreciate what is at stake, and how that will be impacted. What we need is leadership that will listen to the agriculture representatives and appreciate that you are willing to provide this country with safe food." The TPP is being negotiated in Atlanta, and some reports suggest if the deal is reached it would mean concessions from the dairy industry.

Things got heated as discussion about the TPP continued. Incumbent Conservative MP for Oxford County Dave MacKenzie asked the public to look into all the parties platforms after NDP Candidate Zoe Kunschner made her remarks regarding the TPP issue. "The NDP have no concept, or at least their candidate has no concept of what goes on in government. This will come back to the House of Commons to be debated before it becomes law in Canada. This is a major, major piece of trade legislation, and we will be cut out of a margin of 830 million people around the world." Many jabs were traded back and forth between the Conservative and NDP candidates with other 3 members caught in the crossfire.

Kunschner provided her take on whether restrictive firearm laws should be brought back. "More so for the safety of our first responders; this is not a question of making sure farmers do not have weapons. Far too many of our first responders have been killed because they were unaware that there were firearms in that situation. To protect Canadians I would support a very limited firearm registry."

Representing the Green Party Mike Farlow was faced with what he would do if he didn't agree with one of his party's policies. "As an MP I would be able to vote what I thought was best for Oxford County, and also consider my own passions. I would not be having a party policy that would dictate that I would have to vote for something that I thought was, as in the case of this trade deal, so against what the community is concerned about."

Christian Heritage Party Candidate Melody Aldred was able to discuss her stance on GMOs "The consumer is more important than technology, we are confident that consumers will want to use genetically modified foods but they must be part of the decision on how and when bio-technology is used. I am concerned about the frequent use of genes transferred between species, a violation of the biblical injunction of mixing kinds."

Ingersoll will host the next all candidates debate on October 7th.