â–º Listen Live

HomeNewsFinal Sunshine Coast all-candidates meeting draws large crowd

Final Sunshine Coast all-candidates meeting draws large crowd

The Conservative, NDP, Liberal and Green candidates for West Vancouver Sunshine Coast were in Sechelt last night for a Chamber of Commerce forum.

Topics included controversial energy projects like Woodfibre LNG.

Green Ken Melamed is blunt in his views.

“I will fight Woodfibre, LNG. I have a 4 point plan to stop it in its tracks. That’s my commitment to you as your MP; not waffle around around process.”

Larry Koopman of the NDP also offered a cut-and-dried opinion. “I reject the proposal for Woodfibre LNG because it is not based on any scientific evidence. There is no social license. There is harm to the environment.”

- Advertisement -

Conservative John Weston says MPs need to let the experts weigh in, “… so I believe it shouldn’t be politicians, it should be scientists and engineers who make these decisions in independent and objective processes.”

But Liberal Pam Goldsmith Jones says the government has made that impossible, “… we do need a much stronger, more robust framework for establishing whether Woodfibre LNG or Kinder Morgan go forward, because this government has shattered our faith.”

Other issues included improving relations between Ottawa and First Nations.

Koopman says the NDP would act immediately on an inquiry into missing and murdered aboriginal women, and the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Liberal Pam Goldsmith Jones says they’d do the same.

Ken Melamed of the Greens says his party will push for a “Council of Canadian Governments”, which would bring fist nations to the table with federal, provincial and municipal governments as an equal player.

Conservative John Weston says he supports working with First Nations, but believes any agreements need to protect all interests, giving the example of the Pender Harbour Dock Management Plan, which he says risks putting First Nations interests above those of area landowners.

You can listen to the candidates opening statements below, beginning with Goldsmith Jones.

Marxist-Leninist Carol-Lee Chapman and Robin Kehler of the Marijuana Party are also running, but weren’t part of last night’s forum.

The forum aired on Coast TV, and will repeat Friday, Sunday and Monday at 3:00 pm and 11:00pm and Saturday and Tuesday at 7:00 pm on Coast Cable 10.

- Advertisment -
- Advertisment -
- Advertisement -

Continue Reading