Candidates in the Cariboo-Prince George riding during tonight's (Oct.9) all-candidates forum at UNBC's Canfor Theatre

By Greg Fry

Federal election 2019

Candidates discuss climate change, post-secondary education at UNBC forum

Oct 9, 2019 | 9:40 PM

PRINCE GEORGE — Climate change and post-secondary education were two issues that were front and centre during tonight’s (Oct.9) all-candidates forum at UNBC’s Canfor theatre.

Starting with climate change, three candidates from the Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies riding revealed stark differences in how their parties would address the issue.

When it comes to climate change People Party of Canada candidate Ron Valliant said it doesn’t exist and said fear about it has been whipped up “by rhetoric” learned in schools.

Conservative incumbent Bob Zimmer said his party supports the climate but not at the expense of jobs while Liberal Mavis Erickson said the Liberals have helped by putting a price on carbon, promising to ban the use of single-use plastics by 2021 and by declaring climate change a national emergency. The NDP (Marcia Luccock) and Green (Catharine Kendall) candidates were absent.

New Awards Program

Prince George City Council to discuss Citizen Recognition Medal Program Monday

Nov 17, 2024

Missing Trio

Fort St. John RCMP looking for missing father and two children

Nov 17, 2024

Caledonia Nordic Ski Club

Caledonia Nordic Ski Club prepare for another big national biathlon competition

Nov 16, 2024

Post secondary education was debated later on by candidates in the Cariboo-Prince George riding.

The candidates were asked how they felt about the creation of a national post-secondary act, akin to the current Canada Health Act.

Green (Mackenzie Kerr), Liberal (Tracy Calogheros) and NDP (Heather Sapergia) candidates all agreed it was a good idea.

Mackenzie Kerr of the Green party expanded on that by saying her party supports free education for college and university students.

Meanwhile Conservative incumbent Todd Doherty said his party supports the reintroduction of the registered education savings plan to make education more affordable.

People’s Party of Canada candidate Jing Lan Yang questioned why rich families should ever receive free education and called the current student loans program a fair system. Independent candidate Michael Orr was absent.

General Voting Day is set for October 21.