There were interesting moments at the Âé¶čAV-Mission all-candidates forum on Tuesday (Oct. 8), including B.C. Conservative Gavin Dewâs comment that he and leader John Rustad are soon to be endorsed by Brad Bennett.
Bennett is the son of former Socred Party Leader and B.C.âs 27th premier, Bill Bennett. Speaking about free enterprise Dew said a series of interviews with Brad Bennett will be coming out in the next few days.
âAs a reminder that when, as free enterprisers, we stick together, we win, we defeat the NDP and we get this province back on track.â
Dew, BC NDP candidate Harpreet Badohal and unaffiliated candidate Ashley Ramsay participated in the breakfast forum hosted by the Âé¶čAV Chamber at the Coast Capri Hotel. Green Party candidate Billy Young was invited but did not attend.
During the forum, Badohal questioned the moderator, CBC Radio host Chris Walker, over Dew mentioning individuals in the audience.
âHe has named (Âé¶čAV-Mission MLA) Renee Merrifield and (Mayor) Tom Dyas they are not a part of this discussion,â Badohal said.
Dew had referred to reactions from Merrifield and Dyas on the topics of housing and short-term rentals. Walker said that candidates pointing out people they know in the audience did not hurt the debate.
âIf you have concerns with the rules of the debate you can take it up with the Chamber afterwards right now weâre going to talk about the issues,â Walker said.
Questions were mostly business-focused and covered housing infrastructure, short-term rentals, paid sick leave and the employer health tax. Helping businesses deal with the consequences of crime and drug decriminalization was an important topic for all the candidates.
Bahohal noted that the NDP has hired approximately 100 of the 250 promised RCMP officers and is setting up provincial hubs to deal with repeat property crime.
âWhere there will be prosecutors, police officers, probation officers to deal with those repeat offenders.â
He added that B.C. has the most strict bail rules in Canada.
"The problem is because of federal rules to which judges are bound of those people recommended by the prosecution to be detained until trial only 25 per cent are detained."
Ramsay advocated a preventative approach.
âWe need more support in the schools and on the front lines to help with an issue before it becomes an issue,â she added. âIt also goes beyond crime, itâs compassion for people who have complex mental health issues and addictions to these drugs.â
Dew pointed to the Conservative's recently released crime policy.
âThat includes toughening the charge assessment guidelinesâŠweâve talked about hiring more sheriffs, judges, crown prosecutorsâŠas well as fighting for mandatory minimum sentences.â
All the candidates spoke of the need to help individuals with mental health and substance use issues with supports to help them put their lives back together.
Throughout the debate, Badhohal urged voters to do their research and not believe what he called Conservative lies about the NDPâs record in government and its campaign promises.
âJohn Rustad and the Conservatives, they think they own you because you are business entities,â he said. âThey think they will create a mirage of free enterprise and you will come running to buy their false dream.â
Dew repeatedly told the audience not to believe NDP messaging around conspiracy theories.
âWhat weâre seeing in the final days of this election is an NDP government desperate to distract,â he added. âLook at our economy, it is on the rocks. Look at our healthcare system, it is falling apart. Look at what is happening on our streets.â
Ramsay reminded the audience that they had another option.
âEverybody here lives in one of the 17 ridings that have an independent (candidate),â she said. âItâs an unprecedented opportunity for Âé¶čAV to have an untethered representation for you.â
The Âé¶čAV Chamber hosts the candidates from Âé¶čAV-Lake Country-Coldstream on Oct. 9 and Âé¶čAV-Centre on Oct. 10.
