Federal candidates mix it up in Shelburne

Timothy Gillespie — Thu, 24 Sep 2015 14:45:46 +0000

"... it was not the Harper government which created 1.3 million jobs, it was small business owners who created the jobs."

As the putative local sponsor of election debates, the Shelburne Chamber of Commerce switched gears this election year for their typical "candidates debate" for the federal election in the South Shore - St. Margarets riding by hosting it as an early-morning breakfast in a Water Street restaurant, rather than at the Community Centre. Rather than the usual 100-200 attendees, there were forty-one present, perhaps due to the timing and the $10 charge for breakfast and rather than a debate format, the event was billed as a "candidate's forum".

The Liberal, Conservative and NDP candidates were introduced by Chamber president Elizabeth Rhuland and the event was moderated by Chamber secretary Ron Chute.

There appeared to be no obvious front runner from the non-debate, where Bernadette Jordan (Liberal), Richard Clark (Conservative) and Alex Godbold (NDP) gave opening and closing remarks, with about five questions from attendees to all of the candidates.

All of the candidates agreed that seniors and health issues were paramont to voters in the riding. Jordan stressed in her opening remarks that the Liberal Party would commit to evidence-based policies, especially those relating to the protection of the marine environment.

NDP candidate Godbold said that job creation in the region has stalled under the Harper government and that the NDP would repeal recent tax cuts and would commit to a national child care strategy.

Conservative Richard Clark iterated the accomplishments of the Harper government and suggested that a Liberal or NDP government would be "risky" and would drive the country into a deficit situation.

One question which generated much response from all three was whether candidates agreed with a Stephen Harper comment to a conservative think-tank audience that people should not feel bad for unemployed workers in Canada because workers "don't feel bad about it themselves as long as they are receiving generous social assistance and unemployment insurance."

None of the candidates chose to answer directly, but fell back on party platform talking points. Richard Clark said that the Harper government has created 1.3 million new jobs in recent years and commits to a matching figure if re-elected. Alex Goldbold said the NDP was committed to freezing EI premiums for four years, increasing training programs, reducing hours needed to qualify and on EI and removing EI funds from general revenues.

Jordan committed the Liberals to reducing wait times for EI benefits, increasing training and putting policies in place which would assist seasonal workers. Because if widespread condemnation of the Harper government practice of using EI funds to balance the federal budget, she also committed the Liberals to legislative and policy changes which would ensure that EI funds would be used only for EI benefits, not placed in general revenues.

Emily Tipton, co-owner of the Boxing Rock Brewery reminded Richard Clark that it was not the Harper government which created 1.3 million jobs, it was small business owners who created the jobs.

In answering her question about the continuation of a program accessed by Boxing Rock to employ three full-time youthful workers, Alex Godbold said the NDP was committed to re-introducing the "Small Brewers Act" which would support the growing industry, but which was not passed in the last sitting of the House.

In interviews following the forum, Richard Clark twice declined a direct answer as to whether he agreed with Prime Minister Harper on the unemployment issue, repeating that the "real issue" was job creation.

Jordan exclaimed, "Good lord no," when asked if she agreed, adding that it was an "offensive" comment. "Unemployed people want to work," she said. "They just don't have jobs."

During the post-forum interview with SCT, Jordan also re-affirmed her party's commitment to the need for true collaboration with provincial governments on matters which require a cooperative approach. When pressed if this would be the case with concerns expressed in BC and Atlantic Canada about the negative environmental effects of open pen, fin fish aquaculture, she said "yes."

"As a government which would be committed to evidence-based decisions, we would also remove the muzzles placed on Canadian scientists who speak out about science issues which effect the environment of the protection of valuable natural resources."

Though not addressed at the forum, Jordan also affirmed that a Liberal government would commit to what she said was badly needed electoral reform. "We would see the end of first-part-the-post elections," she added

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Harper charged with contempt by NDP hopeful

Timothy Gillespie — Thu, 06 Aug 2015 17:27:30 +0000

Voters fed up with Harper
Alex Godbold, the freshly-minted NDP candidate for Gerald Keddy's South Shore-St. Margarets MP seat came out swinging in his first official campaign statement this week, saying that “People are fed up with Harper’s contempt for democracy and the law.”

Buying power
Godbold also accused Harper of a "plan to buy his way back into power with our own money..." and says that signals voters "that it’s time for a change.”

“The majority here in SSSM wants Stephen Harper gone,” says Godbold, who did not specify how he came to that conclusion. He did say that, in "consulting the numbers..." the only way to achieve that change is to vote NDP.

The NDP has come second in the last three federal elections in SSSM, adds the release, which also asserts that the party in the best position today to replace the Conservatives.

Trust in Mulcair
“We have a very experienced and trusted leader in Tom Mulcair,” says Godbold in the release, “Stephen Harper has the worst job creation record of any Prime Minister since the World War II. Canadians are turning increasingly to the NDP to undo the damage Harper has done to our country.”

Godbold used much of the news release to tout the promises of NDP leader Tom Mulcair, including the repeal of fhe "secret police law" (Bill C-51), the introduction of proportional representation, reinvestment in health care, rebuilding the economy with job creation initiatives and investment in infrastructure and renewable energy, tackling climate change and making polluters pay, reforming EI and to deliver affordable, accessible, quality child care at a cost of $15 a day.

Canadians want country back
“Tom Mulcair gets it. Canadians want their country back,” Godbold says, “and South Shore-St. Margarets can play a part in bringing about that change. I am asking for the support of all those who agree with us that Stephen Harper must go.”

In an exclusive interview last week with SCT, Godbold iterated many of the qualities he admires in leader Tom Mulcair, but did not take a strident position and did not level the charges of contempt.

Conflict of principles not likely
When asked by SCT whether, should he be elected, he would stand fast to his own principals on votes where he might differ with Mulcair and/or the NDP caucus, Godbold was far less certain, saying first that he doubted that there would not likely be that conflict. When pressed on whether he would stand fast to his values and principles, Godbold appeared to waiver, saying that the kind of partisanship which encouraged voting the party line was an essential part of the modern political process.

PHOTO: Alex Godbold at ArtStudio138 in Shelburne

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Federal candidates mix it up in Shelburne

Harper charged with contempt by NDP hopeful