More than 100 people gathered at the Cook Street Village Activity Centre on April 17 to hear candidates in the Victoria riding answer a range of questions, from those about housing to the climate crisis.
Michael Doherty (Green Party), Laurel Collins (NDP), Will Greaves (Liberal Party), David Mohr (PPC), Mary Moreau (Christian Heritage Party) and Steve Filipovic (independent) participated in the debate. Conservative Angus Ross and Rhinoceros Party candidate Cody Fraser didn't attend.
The event began with five-minute introductions, during which time the candidates were asked to label the riding's top election issues. The state of the economy, the cost of living and housing affordability and supply topped most of the candidates’ lists.
"When it comes to addressing our affordability crisis, New Democrats have committed to pushing this government to cap grocery prices, and that means that people will actually be able to put food on the table," said Collins.
Greaves expressed a similar sentiment.
"In this election, we need to protect the progress that we have made on key issues ... that matter to us in this community, like building more homes for more people in the right places, close to amenities, close to public services, close to public transportation," he said.
Doherty labelled Trump as the top concern for Canadians, before using part of his time to make his case for the climate-focused party.
"This may shock some of you, but I acknowledge that after this election, the Green Party is not going to be running Canada," he said. "Do you want somebody who's going to be part of the government – and that may be your choice – or do you want somebody who's going to hold the government to account?"
A large portion of the debate surrounded the parties' commitments to mitigating environmental pollution and addressing the climate crisis.
Doherty said the Greens would push to halt the creation of new fossil fuel infrastructure in Canada, while advocating for a national energy grid powered by hydro, wind and solar.
"I don't know how many of you got to watch the French leaders debate ... where the moderator directly asked each of the leaders: more oil, yes or no? Mr. Singh at least committed to no new public money should be spent on (oil)," said Doherty. "(For) Mr. Poilievre and Mr. Carney, the answer is yes."
Collins said she would push the government to end fossil-fuel subsidies, implement a strong emissions cap on the oil and gas sector, create an east-west electricity grid, and invest in retrofitting people’s homes.
"What we've seen from this Liberal government is that they will always cater to big oil and gas. They invited oil and gas CEOs to help them craft their climate platform," said Collins. "We need to have New Democrat voices pulling the government to make sure that we are defending people and the planet."
Greaves said investing in clean energy, electrifying industry, shifting away from gas-powered vehicles and building sustainable, denser, multi-unit housing closer to amenities are all key steps to a greener future.
"Climate change requires specific policies that will address both the root cause of the problem, which is primarily the emissions of greenhouse gasses into our atmosphere, while also increasingly investing in the adaptation that is necessary because we have failed over many decades to address this problem with the magnitude that it demands," he said.
While Mohr and Filipovic denied the existence of climate change, the independent candidate used a chunk of his allotted time to outline his opposition to COVID-19 vaccinations. Moreau said people can't "control all of the weather," adding that the party believes in "God and that He controls everything."
