Candidates running for election in Columbia-Kootenay-Southern Rockies debated the issues during a forum at the Key City Theatre in Cranbrook on April 14.
Five out of six candidates running for office were in attendance — Reggie Goldsbury (Liberal Party of Canada), Kallee Lins (NDP), Steven Maffioli (Green Party of Canada), Rob Morrison (Conservative Party of Canada) and Jim Wiedrick (Independent). People's Party of Canada candidate Laurie Baird did not participate.
The event was organized by JCI Kootenay, and moderated by Jason Wheeldon.
Candidates were given a opening statement, while prepared questions submitted by the Chamber of Commerce were given a response time of two minutes. Questions submitted by the crowd before the event were given a one-minute response time, while the night wrapped up with candidate closing statements.
Some universal themes threaded through all candidates — namely removing inter-provincial trade barriers in the face of tariffs being implemented by U.S. President Donald Trump and the reclaiming of Canadian sovereignty amid rhetoric over becoming the "51st state."
But it was also an opportunity for candidates to contrast themselves, their policy ideas, and the parties they represent.
Columbia River Treaty
The Columbia River Treaty is a water sharing agreement between Canada and the United States that provides flood risk management and downstream power generation on the Columbia River. It was ratified in 1964 as the U.S. paid for 60 years of flood control management amid other treaty terms, namely the construction of three dams and reservoirs in B.C. and one in Montana.
Since 2018, both countries have been in formal negotiations to update the treaty, as it can be unilaterally terminated by either side, provided there is 10 years notice. Indigenous Nations including the Ktunaxa Nation, Secwépemc and Syilx Okanagan have been included in the Canadian delegation as official observers since 2019.
However, after reaching an Agreement-in-Principle (AIP) last summer on a modernized framework, talks are currently paused as the United States conducts a review of its international engagement. Even though talks are on hold, interim agreements guide treaty operations — the treaty itself has not been suspended.
Goldsbury said the existing terms have "short-changed British Columbia for decades" and advocated for more local representation in the treaty talks with a voice at the governing table.
Lins said the new treaty needs a broader view to take in ecosystem restoration with Indigenous participation, while unequivocally stating that control of Canada's water resources governed by the treaty would not be ceded to the United States, nor would it be used as a bargaining chip in other trade-related disputes.
Maffioli advocated for more Indigenous participation and noted that Canada is not as close to the United States as in the past.
Morrison suggested including the region's Member of Parliament with the delegation as an observer — not a negotiator — in the talks, referencing concerns he's heard from a local group worried about lower water levels in the Koocanusa Reservoir.
Wiedrick said Canada hasn't had a "respectful" negotiation from the U.S. and says Canada needs to look at nuclear energy as a domestic power generation option instead of relying on importing electricity from the U.S. grid and wait for the Americans to come back to the table for downstream flood risk management.
Tougher sentences for drug trafficking and repeat violent offenders
Lins said she was not opposed to amending criminal code to impose tougher sentences on drug traffickers to "criminalize criminal activity" while ensuring communities have wrap around services to ensure drug users and individuals living with an addiction can access housing and centralized supports. Policing resources are also "strapped" as municipalities are struggling to keep up with policing costs and that's something that "needs to be addressed," Lins said.
Maffioli said he supports harsher punishments for drug dealers and repeat offenders, and said addiction is flourishing in his hometown of Fernie, which is being compounded by an affordability crisis.
Morrison said the issue is a problem in small communities and faulted previous legislation that softened bail laws and removed elements of mandatory sentencing. However, he also advocated for more supports for those in the court system who are living with an drug addiction, citing a plan to redirect them to a rehabilitation facility instead of jail.
Wiedrick said drug addiction strains both policing and emergency room resources and stood against safe drug supply policies, while also advocating for more street outreach and keeping repeat violent offenders locked up.
Goldsbury spoke about a friend who died of a drug overdose, noting people dying from toxic drugs are "people within our communities who need help." He advocated for incentives to bring more RCMP resources to B.C. and more resources are needed for outreach programs to address "root causes of property crime."
Improving access to health care, immigration and credentialing for foreign-trained professionals
Maffioli says current health care system is in "shambles" and advocated for more infrastructure and pushed for more alternatives and holistic practitioners included into the system.
Morrison said one in five Canadians live in rural areas and eight per cent of physicians practice rurally. He advocated for red tape reduction and working with the provincial medical governance bodies to pairing foreign-trained doctors with local medical experts to gauge and develop their skills.
Wiedrick, an emergency room doctor in Nelson, said the Canada Health Act is outdated, being passed in 1984. He pushed for an expansion of CT scanners into more rural communities, and advocated for national licensing for health care professionals, given the potential influx of U.S. doctors leaving America.
Goldsbury said his party would fast-track credentialing for internationally trained doctors and introduce incentive programs go get doctors and nurses to rural areas. He also spoke about reducing the administrative burdens so that doctors and health care professionals can focus on health care instead of bureaucracy.
Lins said the NDP has committed to a one per cent increase in transfer payments to provinces, and tying it specifically to hiring and retention of doctors and prioritizing rural communities. She also highlighted the success of a rural pre-med program from Selkirk College, and nodded to more nursing resources and support, including a payment program while they're doing a practicum.
Audience questions
Before the debate, questions from attendees were submitted in writing and screened by moderators. Topics included forecasting the deficit, candidate ties to the riding, party and personal stances on diversity, equity and inclusion policies, supporting the arts, protecting minority rights, funding for the CBC and local media, food security, plans to address gender-based violence, and building more pipelines across Canada.
On some subjects, there was relative uniformity, while on others, the contrast was stark. For example, all candidates condemned discrimination and vowed to protect minority rights and develop policy to ensure everyone is treated equally.
In other topics, such as as funding for the CBC — Goldsbury, Lins and Maffioli all indicated support for protecting and (in some cases increasing) funding for the CBC as a national institution, particularly for rural and remote parts of the country. In contrast, Morrison and Wiedrick expressed support for CBC Radio, but with tempered concern that public funding for a public broadcaster does not make a level playing field for private media companies.
Amid Trump tariffs, all candidates were in favour of diversifying international trade to reduce economic reliance on the United States, as well as tearing down inter-provincial trade barriers and buying Canadian.
Within that topic, there was some nuance.
For example,Morrison and Wiedrick were supportive of building east-west pipelines and tap into Canada's energy resources, with Morrison touting a "one-year" permitting plan. Goldsbury and Lins were also supportive, however, with the caveat that rights holders are at the table, with Lins specifically mentioning free, prior and informed consent of Indigenous Nations and development of green energy projects. Maffioli said the Green Party was opposed to building new pipelines.
The debate was recorded by Artistic Media Productions is available on YouTube and the JCI Kootenay Facebook page.
Advance voting opportunities are available in Cranbrook from April 18-20 at the Prestige Rocky Mountain Resort and in Nelson at 801 Railway Street. However, anyone can also cast their ballot early by going to a Service Canada location in Cranbrook and Nelson.
General voting day is April 28th. Visit elections.ca for more information on specific polling locations in communities across the riding.
