By Spencer Sterritt

All-candidates debate crowd resists voter and political fatigue

Apr 25, 2019 | 9:58 PM

NANAIMO — You wouldn’t be able to tell the crowd at the first all-candidates debate Thursday night have already voted five times in the last two years.

The substantial crowd at the Beban Park Social Centre made their thoughts and concerns known throughout the debate, hosted by the Greater Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce. Supporters from all five parties cheered and jeered the messages shared by the candidates. 

The first murmur from the crowd occured when Liberal candidate Michelle Corfield discussed the federal government’s climate action strategy. 

“It’s not enough,” several supporters of other parties called throughout Corfield’s response. 

Conservative candidate John Hirst took several blows from the crowd when he rebutted claims from Green candidate Paul Manly, specifically about the benefits of oil fracking. 

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 “An anecdote isn’t science” and calls of “shame on you” were lobbed in Hirst’s direction. 

None of the candidates finished the night unscathed from crowd criticism. 

The candidates were also highly critical of each other, with numerous rebuttals throughout the roughly 80 minute debate. 

NDP candidate Bob Chamberlin was asked specifically why he supported LNG in B.C. while also not supporting the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion and it was put to Corfield if the Liberals were “too tepid” to make a difference for the middle class.

Most of the questions submitted by voters touched on environmental concerns and climate change. Other questions asked of the candidates focused on affordability, homelessness and how to prevent repeat criminal offenders.             

The successful candidate is scheduled to spend roughly five weeks in Ottawa as an MP before the summer break in Ottawa, leading up to the fall federal election. Candidates were pressed in a submitted question about what realistic change they could accomplish for Nanaimo-Ladysmith in such a short amount of time in office.

The byelection, which Elections Canada previously said is expected to cost $1.1 million, was sparked when NDP MP Sheila Malcolmson quit her federal post for a successful run at the vacant MLA position, which was left open for a $300,000 provincial byelection after MLA Leonard Krog quit to become Nanaimo’s mayor. 

Under Elections Canada rules, a federal byelection in the Nanaimo-Ladysmith riding had to be called even though the fall general election is only several months later. The latest date for the byelection was Aug. 25 with the earliest date for the general election being Sept. 1. 

Voters can go to the polls starting Friday, April 26 for advance voting.

The election will be held on May 6. 

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit