Just two for all-candidates meeting

Mac Olsen
South Peace News

Only incumbent Brian Jean and Liberal Party candidate John Webb made it for the all-candidates meeting at the Pomeroy Inn Oct. 5. Moderator Gord Olson invited the other candidates – John Malcolm (First People’s National Party), Dylan Richards (Green Party) and Mark Voyageur (NDP) - but they had other commitments or could not be reached. Two people entered their names late in the election, Jacob Strydhorst (Christian Heritage Party) and independent Shawn Reimer. Webb and Jean made extensive opening remarks then answered questions. From the outset, Webb spoke in a soft tone and used persuasion to get his messages across. He also occasionally referenced sources of information when asked questions. Webb is a criminal lawyer, having spent much of his career in Calgary, although he now works in Fort McMurray. “Fort McMurray has nourished me. I have a respect for the place and I’m happy to be up here,” he says. In contrast to Webb, Jean spoke in a firm but forthright manner, with a binder of information to highlight what he and the Conservative government have done since coming to power in February 2006. Jean proclaimed he is proud to be from northern Alberta and carry the people’s message to Ottawa. “I’m clearly, in my opinion, the voice that sends a strong and concise message with our priorities to Ottawa and I don’t take that job lightly at all,” says Jean. Jean and Webb discussed some topics extensively in their opening statements and expanded on them during the question period. George Keay asked if the federal government could provide some funding for the CT Scan. “I think we can make a really strong case for the money we will save the federal government in transportation,” says Keay. Webb says Keay has a good idea and he would try to obtain funding if elected. Jean supports the CT Scan and promises to find out if federal funding could be provided. Webb says he spent a day in High Prairie before the all-candidates meeting to get a sense of the issues facing the community and talked to many groups. In response to this and other issues Webb raised, Brian Holmberg asked him how much help would he be to “the hub” of the Peace Country if elected. “I’ve heard so much about politicians that are from other areas and they come to these forums and all they do is they promise, promise, promise,” says Holmberg. “I think it’s up to you, whether you’re in Ottawa, Lethbridge, Calgary or Fort McMurray. You have to come down and see your people in your constituency.” Webb says he would come to High Prairie on his way to or from Ottawa. “If I’m down there for 20 days and up in Alberta for 10 days, I’m going to go through here on the way.” Jean says the Fort McMurray-Athabasca riding covers 35 per cent of the province and includes over 40 communities, so it is hard to get to all of them. He also works long hours in Ottawa. “So the reality is, I have to deal with what I’ve got. But I will be as fair to you as I am to my family and friends in Fort McMurray and elsewhere in the riding.” Jean also says, because of calls from constituents, he lobbied for $2 million to deal with the pine beetle infestation in this area. The conversation eventually moved into a discussion about crime. “What would you do to lessen crime in Alberta and Canada?” asked Linda Williscroft. She referred to the murder of 14-year-old Emily Stauffer in Edson Sept. 27 and the kidnapping of a seven- year-old girl child in Edmonton Oct. 5. Webb says if someone is found guilty of a capital crime such as rape, murder or arson, they should be put in prison for life, citing convicted child murderer Clifford Olson as an example. However, it becomes more complicated for youth crimes, as a balance must be struck for the prospect of rehabilitation. Jean says the Conservative government is getting tougher on criminals. For instance, they introduced legislation to require mandatory minimum sentences for gun crimes. They also introduced new laws to protect children from sexual predators by increasing the age of protection from 14 to 16. Another topic discussed was agriculture, as Judy Williscroft asked the candidates what interest they have in it. She is concerned about BSE and that the beef industry could shut down, making Canada rely on imported beef from countries that do not have the same inspection standards. Webb acknowledged he does not know much about this subject and asked for specific examples, including how her family’s livestock operation works. He also says he is willing to learn more about agriculture issues. Jean touts his government’s $50 million investment in stronger slaughter capacity for the livestock and dairy industries in some parts of Canada. Most of the supply management issues relate to dairy industry support, he adds. The government has also hired 200 new food safety inspectors. First Nations issues were also discussed. Sucker Creek First Nation chief Jaret Cardinal asked three questions: What measures will be put in place for governance and accountability? What legislation will come out for treaty rights and their recognition? What measures will the federal government provide to address the two per cent cap on education funding for First Nations? Webb supports the Kelowna Accord the previous Liberal government initiated, which he says the Conservative Party shunned when it came to power. He quoted an article from the National Post Sept. 22. “‘The Liberals will honour (their) $5.1 billion pledge for spending on housing, education, health, economic development and infrastructure as the basis for any future agreement with Aboriginal leaders.’ That’s what I stand for,” says Webb. “The Conservative Party has rejected the Kelowna agreement. I think the Conservative government has gone sideways on Aboriginal and Metis leaders on this agreement.” However, Jean dismisses the Kelowna Accord as nothing but a “news release that was backed up by zero policy and more failed Liberal promises.” He also says Bill C-2, the Federal Accountability Act, provides for accountability and good governance. “It’s going to change governance for Aboriginals across this country. I think most Aboriginals recognize that there’s a need for change to the Indian Act to some degree. In fact, what you will find with this Conservative government is that it has moved forward in relation to many different pieces of legislation,” says Jean. His government is also providing $56 million over five years for family violence and prevention programs, services and shelters, with another $43 million over two years to improve child and family services on reserves. Jean is not familiar with the two per cent cap of education funding, but in 2007 his government committed $105 million over five years to double the size of the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Partnership Initiative. Despite the candidates’ statements and positions, Cardinal does not feel they have addressed his concerns adequately. “What I was looking for was some commitment or an idea of the platforms of the parties on how they’re going to begin addressing these issues which are critical to First Nations,” says Cardinal. “From what I’ve seen so far, Kelowna is mostly about social policy issues. The Conservative approach is more piecemeal to take a look at all of these things. I haven’t seen a concrete commitment from either party or from any parties to begin really addressing treaty rights issues. That’s something that, as a chief and as a leader of my people, I’d like to be able to see coming from our federal government.” He also says the Kelowna Accord was a starting point and it was not meant to be the end point. “I was at Kelowna and what I saw was governments beginning to address a lot of the issues that our communities are facing. It was meant to be a starting point, to begin addressing the larger problems.” In his concluding remarks, Webb thanked those who attended and he appreciated their “lively participation in the democratic process.” Jean highlighted his government’s program “Building Canada” which provides $33 billion for infrastructure revitalization across the country. His government has also increased the Northern Living Allowance by 10 per cent. Jean asks to be re-elected based on having worked hard for his constituents and being accountable to them. Olson commended the candidates for coming to High Prairie and the audience for their participation. Canadians go to the polls Oct. 14.

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