REGINA - Those in the Cathedral neighbourhood got to hear from some of the candidates running in the federal election in Regina-Lewvan on Sunday evening.
An all-candidates forum was put on by Cathedral Village Community Association. But those hoping to hear from — or potentially grill — Conservative incumbent Warren Steinley were in for a disappointments.
Steinley’s campaign sent their regrets. Godwin Ezizor of the People’s Party also did not attend. Instead, three candidates - the NDP’s Ray Aldinger, the Liberals’ Mac Hird and Green Party’s Michael Wright took part.
The result was a less-than-combative tone on the night, with candidates generally in alignment on the main issues but differing only in how they would address them.
One of the questions posed to candidates right at the start was how they would maintain infrastructure and expand the housing supply.
Wright said the Greens wanted investment in housing “to be aligned with sustainability initiatives.”
Hird responded the Liberals would launch “the most ambitious housing plan since World War II, doubling the construction of new homes built year over year to reach 500,000 new homes in Canada.”
The NDP’s Aldinger was critical of little being done on the issue. “This just didn’t pop up suddenly come election time, this is an issue that’s been out there for years. And we’ve seen nothing come of it.”
When the candidates were asked about civility in Parliament, some candidates turned to the “first-past-the-post” electoral system as part of the problem. Wright said the Greens wanted a proportional system to elect a government.
“I feel that that would cause us to be less polarizing in discussing with each other,” he said.
Aldinger pointed to what the NDP was able to achieve in Parliament by working with the Liberals with dental care and pharmacare, and stressed his willingness “to work across the table, as our party has shown for the last four years.”
The Liberals’ Hird believed a more civil tone was being set.
“I do think Mr. Carney is setting a different tone, focused on unity,” said Hird.
Most of the questions came from the audience and they included one on the Israel-Palestine conflict, a topic that organizers said drew the most submissions from those in attendance.
Other questions included on reconciliation, how the Saskatchewan Ag industry can be protected in the face of tariffs, what to do about climate change, welcoming trans lives and the LGBTQ community, as well as the issue of bringing clear drinking water to First Nations.
On that last topic Hird called it “a really important issue we need to continue tackling” and pointed to progress by the government.
Aldinger called it “a key piece of reconciliation,” but noted water was a “common issue” as he pointed to issues with lead pipes and asbestos pipes — a particular hot topic for those living in the Cathedral area.
“I’d be the loudest voice in Ottawa for sure, raising hell,” Aldinger said, “and saying enough is enough, deliver on your policies.”
The federal vote happens April 28.
