North Bay Pride hosts election debate, Vic Fedeli absent
As the provincial election draws near, North Bay Pride hosted a debate Friday night with the candidates from the Nipissing riding to present their qualifications and policies in their bid to win a seat at Queen's Park.
Five of the eight candidates faced questions from well-known drag queen Geri Atrick, who moderated.
Each candidate was pressed on a number of issues from the COVID-19 pandemic response, to support for the 2SLGBTQ+ community and provincial legislation.
"There are different views and different things and people have the right to hear those views," said Atrick.
Running for the Ontario Party is local pastor Joe Jobin.
"When you win then Ontario wins and when Ontario wins, all people win," he explained, saying the party would eliminate all COVID-19 restrictions and mandates.
Liberal candidate Tanya Vrebosch and NDP candidate Erika Lougheed promised to fight to repeal Bill 124. It is provincial legislation that health care workers have been battling because they say it essentially cuts public employee wages by four per cent.
"Doug Ford was just the other day in North Bay talking about the heroes. The heroes he capped the wages for," said Vrebosch. "He did this in 2018 and it should never have happened."
Esch canadiate agreed the relationship between the government and First Nations must improve and they all supported an idea that started in Medicine Hat, Alberta which has eliminated their chronic homeless situation by focusing on housing first.
On the COVID-19 vaccine, local Libertarian candidate Michelle Lashbrook says she supports freedom of choice.
"It's definitely a touchy subject," she told the crowd. "We have to get back to being human with each other."
The crowd had the opportunity to ask questions of the candidates.
Voter Jordan Ringuette wanted to hear what the candidates plan on doing to help support people living with HIV/AIDS in the community. He said it's become an important issue within the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
"As a queer person myself, I think it's very important that the candidates that are running have a deep understanding of what we are going through and what the HIV/AIDS community is going through," he explained.
Green Party canadiate Sean McClocklin said he believes in building relationships with committees that work with HIV/AIDS.
"Like the AIDS committee to provide better education and better funding to protect people," he responded.
Three of the candidates, Taylor Russell of the New Blue Party, Giacomo Vezina of the None of the Above Party and most notably incumbent Conservative canadiate Vic Fedeli, were no shows.
In the past, Fedeli has said he would only attend one televised debate without an audience.
"He needs to be here. We accommodated everything he asked," said Atrick who said she was disappointed he chose not to participate. "We live streamed it to download it afterwards and you can watch it for the next 10 years if you want and he just refused to answer."
When the debate began, Atrick rolled a giant puppet on stage that resembled Fedeli and placed it by the vacant seat.
Lougheed called out Fedeli for his absence.
"I'm okay with Mr. Fedeli not being here today. The reason is that he wants us to snooze this election away," she said in her closing remarks. "But I hope Mr. Fedeli, you're taking good note because I'm coming for you."
Next week, two more local debates are scheduled.
There is a cable TV debate Monday and the Nipissing University Student Union (NUSU) and the Retired Teachers' Federation Organization (RTFO) are scheduling their own debate with the four major parties Wednesday night.
NUSU confirmed to CTV News that Fedeli has not indicated whether or not he will participate.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.