The Pearson Centre for Progressive Policy

Progressive Dialogue and Policy for a Better Canada

The Election Issues – according to the candidates

By

August 27, 2019

The Election Issues – according to the candidates

By

Comments from MPs and candidates on the issues in their ridings as we approach Election 2019.

In preparation for my regular column in the Hill Times, I asked several MPs and candidates what the Top 10 issues were for them in their ridings. Ten responded in time for the column deadline, and a few others came in after. Below are their responses verbatim for those who responded by email – and a summary of the phone conversations for those who called back. These responses were received between August 19 and 25, 2019.

The question to them send by email was:
I am asking a few MPs and candidates about what they see as the top issues. While SNC-Lavalin dominates the news, it seems to me voters need to be examining it closely, in addition to several other issues. So my question to you is:
– What are the top 5-10 issues that you feel are equally, or more important than SNC-Lavalin?
Andrew Cardozo

THE RESPONSES (in alphabetical order)

RESPONSE FROM DEAN ALLISON, Conservative MP for Niagara West, ON

I’m think that the whole issue of affordability and people being able to get ahead is the most important one.

I think that question will play out differently depending on what part of the country you are in. Out west it will be about the ability to get pipelines built, (and the jobs that provides and whether they feel this government has done enough to make that happen). Ontario will be affordability or the ability to pay for an “affordable” house. So is there enough money at the end of the day to get ahead.

I realize the economy has been relatively strong based on the strength of the US. But are people actually able to get ahead. (Do they have more money in their pockets).

I believe that we should live within our means as a country or with balanced budgets. I believe people can live with slight deficits for a short period of time, but not forever and certainly not with a plan in place to bring our country back to balance. Ultimately people want to make sure their money is not being wasted and they are getting value for their hard earned tax dollars

So if people are paying more, don’t feel they are getting ahead, and the government is making mistakes that they should not be, deficits that don’t reflect my life getting any better then I think it is a problem in that context.

Lastly, I think people are concerned about our relationships around the world and what is going on all around us and the prime minister’s ability to manage everything that is going on, like Trump, trade, tarriffs, India, Saudi Arabia China etc

So I think this election will be a question on who do you think is better to help you get ahead and manage a difficult and chaotic world.

Not 5-10 issues, but issues that I think are important.

Dean Allison

RESPONSE FROM JOHN BARLOW, Conservative MP for Foothills, AB
Here is my response and I hope this helps.

Constituents in Foothills are engaged like never before, they are frustrated at the current Liberal government’s policies which are an attack on Canadian agriculture and natural resources.

There is no question the Ethics Commissioner’s scathing report on the SNC Lavelin scandal and the Prime Minister breaking ethics laws for the second time is the top story in my riding right now.

That being said, before the SNC report the top issue in Foothills was Trudeau bungling relationships with critical trade partners. This has resulted in lost markets for pulses in India, grain in Saudi Arabia, Italy and Vietnam and most recently canola, soybeans, pork, beef and livestock genetics to China. Trudeau’s antics have also resulted in strained trade relations with the United States, Japan and Australia. Our farmers and ranchers rely on trade and the Liberal government is devastating Canadian agriculture with its mishandling of foreign relations. We are losing markets and will be scrambling to find markets for our commodities.

Certainly second is the Liberal’s determined effort to shutdown Canada’s energy sector. Trudeau has stated he wants to phase out Alberta’s oilsands and by passing crippling legislation like C-69 and C-48 and cancelling Northern Gateway he is well on his way to doing so. As Trudeau tries to justify his breaking federal ethics laws to save 9,000 jobs in Quebec – which has proven to be false – he does not have similar concern for the 125,000 lost jobs in Alberta’s energy sector.

The third issue would be the Liberal carbon tax. This makes everything more expensive and with Trudeau giving a massive exemption to the largest emitters the burden of the carbon tax will be borne by families and small businesses. This carbon tax does not reduce emissions, but it makes our businesses uncompetitive globally and raises revenue for the Liberals. It is not an environment plan.

Fourth would be confederation. Southern Alberta residents see Trudeau’s divisive policies tearing this country apart. My constituents are saying this is the most important election in Canadian history and the future of confederation is at stake. Another Liberal mandate will mean a surge in western alienation sentiment which is already nearing a boiling point. We lived through Pierre Trudeau trying to destroy the west now we are seeing his son do the same.
Other issues being raised are rural crime and the Liberal’s attack on law-abiding firearms owners instead of criminals; rural broadband; ratifying the USMCA and access to labour, especially in agriculture.

Thanks,
John

RESPONSE FROM GREG FERGUS, Liberal MP for Hull-Aylmer, QC

I can tell you right off the top the two issues that keep coming up as I door-knock or meet people on the streets of Hull-Aylmer: 1. fear of extremism coming to Canada; 2. a desire to move on the environment.

The other issues are more local: tramway proposal to the west of Gatineau, Next Gen pay system for public servants, and healthcare services in Quebec.

I hope this helps you.
Greg

RESPONSE FROM HEDY FRY, Liberal MP for Vancouver Centre, BC
Summary of phone conversation:
All I can gauge is what I hear on the door step and how many calls, letters and email I get. SNC-Lavalin is not coming up as an issue.
The issues on the door step are:
– Housing and affordable housing is big in Vancouver and is always the #1 issue
– As a maritime province, issues of oceans protection, species at risk and search and rescue are important
– Families – the Canada Child Benefit has been really helpful to a lot of families
– Child care
– Pharmacare
– People feel the issues that are important to them are safe in Liberal hands.

RESPONSE FROM YVONNE JONES, Liberal MP for Labrador, NL
In 2015 Canadians made a clear choice – they wanted a government that would grow the middle class, and support those working hard to join it. Our government had a clear plan to do this, while fighting climate change, supporting seniors, lifting children out of poverty, and bringing about meaningful reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.

Over the last four years, we have been delivering on these promises, and listening to Canadians as their concerns and challenges evolve. I firmly believe Canadians want us as politicians to focus on the following issues in the upcoming election:

• Pension security and affordable living for seniors

• A national pharmacare plan

• Climate change: a plan to fight it to and to prepare for its impacts

• Historic investments in sustainable infrastructure

• A plan to continue lifting children out of poverty

• Reconciliation with Indigenous peoples
• High speed internet connectivity and cellular for rural and remote communities

RESPONSE FROM ELIZABETH MAY, Green Party Leader and MP for Saanich-Gulf Islands, BC
Summary of phone conversation:
1. Climate change. The Liberal government has adopted Harper’s targets and not met them. We need to be a lot more ambitious. This election is so important because we have to get it right in this election – the 2023 election will be too late to meet the 1.5 degree target.
2. Too much big corporate influence in government. The SNC-Lavalin scandal highlights this problem. Big corporations, big oil, big pharma all have too much influence to the detriment of Canadians. SNC on its own is at #10, but if you are looking at corporate influence, it’s up to #2.
3. Pharmacare
4. Affordable housing. Too many Canadians cannot imagine owning their own home.
5. Transportation – public transit and passenger rail
6. Electoral reform

RESPONSE FROM CATHERINE McKENNA, MP for Ottawa Centre
5 Top issues in Ottawa Centre
1. Environment.
The most critical issue in the riding when knocking on doors and talking to constituents is the environment. They are concerned about keeping the Ottawa River clean. Residents want an easier, safer, and cleaner way to get around the city (i.e. Flora Footbridge, LRT, cycling paths, accessible infrastructure). Ottawans are concerned by the impacts of climate change that they see every day, and understand that it shouldn’t be free to pollute.
2. Polarization
Canadians are concerned about the rise of the alt-right and are not feeling safe in their own neighbourhoods, places of worship, and parks. We are committed to inclusive communities where everyone feels safe and welcome. We have been hearing concerns from many communities, including the LGBTQ+ community. *Ottawa is third in Canada in terms of reporting of hate crimes.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ottawa-hate-crimes-statistics-canada-third-worst-1.5220219
3. On Ford cuts:
Doug Ford’s cuts – to healthcare, to schools, to youth, to cities, to environmental programs – hurt real people. When you cut essential services from the middle class, that impacts their everyday lives. So does having a premier who would rather spend taxpayer dollars misleading Ontarians at the pumps and fighting climate progress than standing up for Canadians.

4. On Conservatives:
We have the most ambitious plan, and we are acting on it in a way that makes life affordable. Putting a price on pollution is working. What’s more, all the revenue goes back to the province. The average family of four in Ontario received $307 this year in revenue. Conservatives are misleading Canadians and are making it much harder to take climate action. If Conservatives cared about climate change, then they would have a real plan to fight it.

5. Chateau Laurier
This issue shows how passionate people are about our city and its heritage. Canadians love and really care about Ottawa, and Ottawans themselves love to take advantage of their city’s unique and historic outdoor landscapes. The Chateau Laurier is a one-of-a-kind treasure in the heart of Ottawa, and as a century-old landmark of the city, I completely understand why residents feel so strongly about protecting it.

Other:
I am going to run on a local and national platform. Ottawa Centre is amazing and unique, and I will never stop fighting for its residents and their interests. There are still so many things that will make a big difference that I promise to personally make happen.

RESPONSE FROM JANE PHILPOTT, Independent MP for Markham-Stouffville
These are the Top 10 issues identified in the riding of Markham-Stouffville:

1. Climate action, including transition to clean energy
2. Democratic reform, including electoral reform
3. Reconciliation with Indigenous peoples
4. Ethics and accountability in government
5. Pharmacare
6. Transit infrastructure
7. High-speed internet access and telecom pricing
8. Housing affordability
9. Poverty reduction
10. Seniors issues, including pension protection

Please let me know if you need any further information.

RESPONSES FROM YASMIN RATANSI, Liberal MP for Don Valley East ON
I have been canvassing the riding since January 2019 and SNC Lavalin has not had traction in my riding. People perceive it as media trying to sell newspapers.

The issues I hear at the door are in priority:

1. Environment
2. Economy and jobs
3. Seniors – retiring with dignity and pension security
4. Housing affordability
5. Health care and affordability (this in light of Doug Ford and his cuts)

Hope this helps

Yasmin Ratansi

RESPONSE FROM EMILIE TAMAN, NDP candidate in Ottawa Centre
In Ottawa Centre, climate change is overwhelmingly the top issue on people’s minds. People tell me they are very concerned that the current approach is unduly incremental and does too much to protect the fossil fuel industry (subsidies, pipelines, etc).

Housing affordability and income inequality (separate but related issues) are top of mind as well. People are concerned about the increasing concentration of wealth at the top.

Related to this is the need for tax reform – an issue that I often raise and with which people readily agree. It’s not just about tax rates, but about a system that is increasingly unable to properly capture tax revenues due to loopholes, tax avoidance and tax evasion.

I have to say, I am a bit surprised by the extent to which electoral reform comes up as an issue. I know it’s important to me personally, but wasn’t sure how deeply the issue really resonated outside of partisan circles. It is raised with me very frequently, multiple times every single day. In fact, as far as an issue that people bring up spontaneously without any prompting, it’s probably second to climate change. And keep in mind, I have talked to thousands of people at this point.

Reconciliation with Indigenous People is frequently raised as an issue of deep concern for people here. They worry that we are moving too slowly with solutions that are overly timid. In particular, access to clean water and the unequal treatment of indigenous kids stand out as particular areas of concern.

Finally, health care and education. Sometimes straying into areas of provincial jurisdiction but nonetheless areas of serious preoccupation. The response to the NDP’s plan for universal pharmacare and other areas of extended coverage (ie dental) are met with enormous excitement, despite the fact that many people I speak to already have such benefits.

Hope this helps. I didn’t write this with the intention of being directly quoted, but feel free to use what you need (minus any typos since I’m typing this quickly after just driving to Algonquin Park and back to pick up one of my children from 7 weeks at camp!)

All the best,

Emilie

PS happy to chat about any of this further if it would be of assistance.
(Editoral note: we subsequently received her permission to post this email verbatim.)

RESPONSE FROM KAREN VECCHIO, Conservative MP for Elgin-Middlesex-London
Thank you so much for reaching out.
There are many issues that constituents have concerns with in SouthWestern Ontario along with the SNC Lavalin scandal.
They included:
• Seniors’ Income Security
• Seniors’ Community Supports
• Cost of Living increases- affordability for families
• Ethical Leadership & Global reputation

RESPONSE FROM JODY WILSON-RAYBOULD, Independent MP for Vancouver-Granville

Please find a list of some of the top issues we are hearing about from constituents in Vancouver Granville:
1. Housing and affordability, including co-op support, temporary modular housing, foreign investment, and money laundering
2. Taking action on climate change / transitioning to a green economy – innovation / environmental protection
3. Transportation and infrastructure, especially the Broadway corridor
4. Indigenous reconciliation
5. Ethics, transparency and accountability in government
6. Health care / pharmacare
7. Seniors issues, including pension protection
8. Democratic reform
9. Economy and jobs
10. Reduction of income inequality

Thanks Jody WR.