Standing Room Only At Booming Debate

An army of citizens weren’t afraid to make their voices heard in last night’s double-header all candidates forum.

UNBC’s Canfor Theatre was packed to the brim as candidates in both Prince George ridings talked about the realities of being an MP, and regional issues.

Up first for the PG- Peace River-Northern Rockies, Incumbent conservative Bob Zimmer, Liberal Matt Shaw, New Democrat Kathie Dickie, Progressive Conservative Barry Blackman, and the Green’s Elizabeth Biggar talked about their riding’s most urgent needs, and missing and murdered Aboriginal women.

Zimmer clarified earlier statements made about a potential inquest into missing and murdered aboriginal women, but found the opposition ready to pounce.

New Democrat Kathie Dickie spoke about the societal racism she faced her whole life, and was concerned about the lack of Aboriginal input in police reports.

“This is shameful for Canada. 1,200 women. Missing or Murdered,” stated Dickie, “We’ve worked with the RCMP on the most recent unsolved murder in our community and they just don’t have enough resources to tackle the job.”

“The fact is, this is a national emergency,” added Liberal Matt Shaw, “The perception out there is that (sic) if it were any other demographic, or white women around the Greater Toronto Area, it would have been on people’s radars a long time ago.”

In the Cariboo Prince George riding, Conservative Todd Doherty, Liberal Tracy Calogheris, New Democrat Trent Derrick, Independant Sheldon Clare, Green Richard Jaques, and the Christian Heritage Party’s Adam de Kroon found a strange level of common ground amid some barbed comments.

All Candidates agreed that Senate reform is something that needs to happen.

While Liberal Tracy Calogheros suggested using the Order of Canada recipients as a pool to draw from, Trent Derrick drew some fire from his opponents for the NDP plan to open the constitution to abolish the Senate.

The Green’s Richard Jaques eloquently stated; “Keep your filthy paws off our Constitution,” before calling for an elected Senate.

Cariboo-Prince George candidates are now on to Vanderhoof for another forum Friday night, where all candidates but one have confirmed their attendance.