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
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.