SUDBURY – As the federal election campaign continues, candidates in the Nickel Belt riding got their turn in the hot seats on October 10.
Nickel Belt is one of the larger rural ridings, and candidates had investments in mind.
"We cannot talk about the digital age without having reliable, affordable high-speed internet," said Stephane Paquette, NDP candidate.
"We have a good, good track record over the last four years of those investments that people ask, and we've delivered, and that's the key," said Marc Serre, Liberal candidate.
Questions from the audience were largely focused on Paquette and Serre.
They disagreed over how much time an MP should or shouldn't be speaking in the house of commons. However, both could agree that Sudbury's Citizenship and Immigration Office needs to be returned.
"This is a non-partisan thing… It should be a non-partisan thing. We do need one in Greater Sudbury so to be honest, I don't care who brings it in, just bring it in," said Paquette.
Meanwhile, other candidates say voters in this riding are ready for change.
"I'm hearing very good things at the door. I heard that we can't afford this government for another four years, we need a change. I've heard very positive comments," said Aino Laamanen, Conservative candidate.
"We are against giving subsidies to companies just to do something. If it makes sense for a company to extract something, to process it, they're going to make a profit," said Mikko Paavola, People's Party of Canada candidate.
The Green Party's Casey Lalonde told voter that families can afford to make the environmental changes they're suggesting.
"I can say I know the riding. I know the area. I love Northern Ontario. I think Northern Ontario is perfectly primed to fight the climate crisis that we're seeing," said Lalonde.
The only two parties to ever win the Nickel Belt riding have been the New Democrats and Liberals.
