Candidates tackle a number of hot button issues in Chamber forum

Rutherford was quick to say he doesn’t want the carbon tax.

“I think it hurts us,” he said. “We just talked about the increased cost of living. It makes everything cost more.”

Falk said she doesn’t believe the carbon tax works for lowering emissions.

She said Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole supports Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe’s environmental plan that acknowledges the work that is already being done to lower emissions, such as through farmers’ efforts to sequester carbon in the soil.

Hansen said he agrees with the carbon tax.

“It works for me,” he said. “I reduce my use of fuel because maybe I’m responsible. But I think we have to address the environment somehow.”

Ingram had a similar view, saying the tax is an incentive to start people realizing they can’t continue using fossil fuels as they have in the past.

“We have got to get it together, folks,” he said. “If this summer, with this heat wasn’t enough of a wake up call for each and everyone of us in this room, then there isn’t a wake up call that is worthy of being called upon.”

Candidates also mulled the burden of increasing policing costs many municipalities are facing, including the City of North Battleford, which anticipates a 20 to 25 per cent added cost from RCMP contract negotiations.

While the province does pays a flat rate of $770,000 for several officers, the federal government covers 30 per cent of the remaining costs with the city left with a hefty 70 per cent to cover.

Falk was sympathetic to the city’s challenges.

“I have had meetings with the mayor of North Battleford on bringing forward concerns, not only to caucus, but also on the floor of the House of Commons,” she said.

Falk added that municipalities need to be able to keep their citizens safe.

“Citizens have the right to feel safe in their own home,” she said.

Hansen said he is also aware the city will get an extra bill for retroactive costs dating back to 2017.

“We’ve been negotiating for three years and to finally get a deal, and the city has to pay for it. That’s a big chunk of change for any municipality,” he said.

Ingram said the province should be picking up more of the cost, similar to funding plans for some other large projects, with the province, the federal government and the municipality each covering a third of the cost, for example.

For Rutherford, looking at the root causes of crime is one way to begin to address the issue.

“Why are people going out and committing the crime?” He said.

Rutherford added that restorative justice could help reduce the number of people being sent to jail, to lessen the load on the system.

“Let’s go back a step and not just hire more RCMP and build more jails,” he said.

Candidates also tackled a question on how they feel about the idea of mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations impinging on individuals freedom of choice. While no candidates said they support mandatory vaccinations, many noted the importance of vaccinations can’t be underestimated.

Hansen expressed his views bluntly.

“It may be your right, but I think responsibility trumps that right to refuse,” he said.

Hansen added if the country didn’t shut down when it did in 2020 due to the pandemic, there would have been far many more deaths.

“If you leave something untreated, especially when it’s as dangerous as COVID and don’t deal with it, I have a problem with that,” he said. “Same with the masking. How big a deal is that when you are in a crowded place to wear a mask?”

Ingram related if people are unhealthy and can’t be vaccinated that is a different situation. He said people have that option.

“There is no way I believe we should be blanketing it, and saying everyone should get vaccinated,” he said. “But at the same time, you better have a reason to not get vaccinated.”

Rutherford said his opinion is that people are entitled to the freedom to choose what’s right for them.

“You know your relationship with your doctor,” he said. “Whatever you do, you know that. I just respect people. We are all different. It’s a freedom of choice is where I stand.”

Falk said she promotes following the public health orders put in place in the province.

“That being said, I do not support mandatory vaccination. I believe that it is a decision between you and your doctor,” she said.

Falk added that she and her party do not support vaccine passports for people coming into Canada or leaving Canada.

A question on the future of the Lighthouse Serving the Battlefords was also on the table for discussion.

The emergency shelter was slated for closure in April due to a lack of funding. Then, Métis Nation–Saskatchewan provided interim support to the end of September, using its own COVID-19 emergency funding.

Ingram said the Lighthouse fills an important need in the community.

“I cannot imagine for the life of me why we wouldn’t be funding that to keep people alive, out of the elements, and out of the jails,” he said. “I think the Lighthouse is a good place for the people it is serving, and it would be basic that we would keep it alive and supported.”

Falk said she has expressed concerns about the Lighthouse’s challenges.

“I have in the past supported the Lighthouse by writing a letter of support for the Rapid Housing Initiative that they had applied to. I have also spoken directly with leadership on more than one occasion,” she said.

Falk added Canada’s Conservatives plan to re-implement what is known as the Housing First approach to help respond to the issue of homelessness.

The candidates also discussed a number of other questions related to balancing the budget, cost of living and support for seniors during the evening.

Event MC, Derek Schmidt, says he was pleased with the response from residents at the forum.

“That was a very good turnout during a pandemic. Everybody kept socially distanced and half the people were masked,” he added.

The Facebook live stream of the event had some glitches with the sound for two candidates’ microphones that was eventually resolved. But otherwise there were no other apparent hurdles, and everything went smoothly during the evening.

The event will also be aired on Access Now TV at a future date to be confirmed.

A previous version of this article attributed a quote from Ken Rutherford regarding policing costs to Erik Hansen. We apologize for this error.

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow

by Angela Brown

Candidates tackle a number of hot button issues in Chamber forum

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