This is an ongoing, bi-weekly series by the Osoyoos Times putting questions to the candidates in the 2019 federal election in October.

This week’s question:

What issue facing Canadians do you feel deserves more attention than it is getting right now?

 

 

 

 

 

Richard Cannings, New Democratic Party

The Okanagan is a wonderful place to retire, but for many seniors it is difficult to make ends meet. Unless you have a good pension from a lifetime of work you are forced to get by on Old Age Security. And many seniors have had good pensions literally stolen from them when the companies they work for go bankrupt. When that happens, the banks take their share first, leaving nothing for the pensions of long-time workers.

The NDP introduced legislation in the House of Commons to end this pension theft, to make sure that pensioners were paid out before the banks. Unfortunately the Liberals and Conservatives sided with the banks and voted the bill down.

The Liberal government also introduced Bill C-27, allowing corporations to retroactively change defined benefit pensions (in which workers know ahead of time what their pension amounts will be) to target benefit pensions (in which workers only find out when they retire how much is left in their pension accounts). Needless to say workers were furious — especially when they found out that the family company of Finance Bill Morneau would be the big beneficiary of the bill, since they are the main company in Canada which manages target benefit pensions.

 

 

 

 

 

Connie Denesiuk, Liberal Party of Canada

In South Okanagan-West Kootenay (SOWK), I’ve been engaging with mayors, regional district directors and community leaders throughout the riding. Infrastructure investments have consistently been identified as a principle issue in those conversations. 

Infrastructure investments take many shapes in the lives of residents in the SOWK.  It might be the condition of roads they use to commute daily; flood mitigation that will have an impact on their annual flood risk; or the condition of their local airport. The Liberal government has made infrastructure investment a priority and will continue to do so.

The Oliver siphon project has not yet received funding from the federal government. It should be a top priority of our MP to ensure that such projects in this riding are supported. As Member of Parliament for this riding, I will work directly with both the Town of Oliver, Canada’s Infrastructure Agency and Ministers to generate a long-term solution for the siphon project that can be developed, appropriately funded, and implemented.

I have had thousands of one-on-one conversations with residents across the riding.  My effectiveness as your MP is contingent upon knowing and understanding peoples’ issues and concerns. 

 

 

 

 

 

Helena Konanz, Conservative Party of Canada

I have been travelling all across our South Okanagan-West Kootenay riding and have heard from many residents that they are barely able to get by. The huge increases in cost of living are being ignored by this Liberal government, as well as the NDP that supports them.

The Trudeau Liberals have raised taxes and added 71 billion to the debt, with little to show for it. More than 80 per cent of middle-income families are paying $800 more in taxes every year since Justin Trudeau came into power. Unlike the Liberals, a Conservative government will support small business, and cut corporate welfare payment to mega-corporations like Loblaws, who were handed $12 million by Trudeau to buy new refrigerators.

And our current NDP MP has voted right alongside the Liberals. He voted in favour of the carbon tax and voted to support Trudeau’s deficits. The NDP say they will make your life more affordable when, in reality, they will increase taxes on everyone, taking more money out of your paycheck every month. The NDP have also said they will prop up a Trudeau Liberal government. A vote for the NDP is a vote for Justin Trudeau, and with Trudeau, life will become even more unaffordable.

A Conservative government will put more money in your pocket is by taking GST off your home heating bills, scrapping the federal carbon tax, making parental benefits tax-free, and lowering personal taxes.

 

 

 

 

 

Tara Howse, Green Party of Canada

I am running on a platform of improving transparency and accountability in Parliament, an issue that I believe has not received sufficient attention. The processes that are in place have created a system that is eroding democracy and replacing it with a corporatocracy.

For decades, we have watched our government become embroiled in ethical scandals, regardless of ruling party. Questions of senate and justice appointments, election and donation scandals, and illegal expense claims have become the status quo in our political landscape. Although the recent SNC-Lavalin affair has made dramatic headlines, let’s be clear: this is not the first one. Let us recall such headlines as Shawinigate, Sponsorship Scandal, F-35s Procurement, and Robocall Scandal.

The Green Party stands for improving transparency and accountability processes between MPs, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), and the public. It includes policies and ideas such as strengthening regulations for lobbyists, implementing ethical standards training, and reducing the powers associated with the PMO.

As your MP, the Green Party’s no whipped voting policy allows me to think independently to bring forward your concerns. A unique policy amongst the parties, no whipped voting means I can address the system without worry of Party reprimands or repercussions.

Send your questions to [email protected] as we continue to curate and ask our candidates the questions that matter.