The major party candidates in the federal election bivouacked at Belleville’s Empire Theatre last week for the first of three debates, the last of which was at the Regent Theatre on Monday.

Incumbent MP Ryan Williams showed off the polish of  four years of parliamentary service, but Liberal challenger Chris Malette brought a crowd that cheered every mention of the interim PM Mark Carney. 

Picton resident and NDP hopeful Kate Crothers’s positivity and excellent understanding of the issues facing Prince Edward County struck a genuine note, while the Greens’ Erica Charlton drew some acknolwedgment for pointing to the folly of voting the same way for generations and expecting different results.

The debate showcased a healthy democracy in action. It featured respectful discourse outside the usual social media echo chambers. Attendees got to listen to different ideas and opinions, and to hear neighbours whose political views might differ. That in itself is an important exercise in civility.

County Content

The debate was organized by the Belleville Chamber of Commerce and the Centre Lakes Association of Realtors, and featured a familiar face for some local residents. Former Wellington Dukes star Chris Auger now serves as the Chamber Chair. He moderated a discussion of public safety, homelessness and social services, federal funding formulas and how they can better serve rural Ontario, and the Canadian economy in light of threats and tariffs from the United States.

On housing and homelessness, Mr. Malette raised the initiative at the former Pinecrest Memorial Elementary school senior co-housing project, where local affordable build champion Phil Spry has been trying mightily to get the 58-unit initiative off the ground.

According to Mr. Malette, Pinecrest is precisely the type of low-rent ($700-$900 per month) initiative Mr. Carney would get behind. The Liberals’ Build Canada Homes act would oversee the largest domestic housing stock increase since World War II.

But MP Williams noted the Justin Trudeau government has ignored the project. He recalled visiting the former school when it was called LoveSong and writing letters as an opposition MP in support of a solar panel program that would have allowed construction to commence.

“We talk about the government supporting housing builds, while the government has been the problem!”

Mr. Williams said it takes an average of seven years to build a home in the Quinte area. He noted governments of all levels get in their own way, stalling out new builds through endless planning and approval processes.

“We are going to make sure we work with the provinces to eliminate a lot of the red tape. Some of that is in the municipal planning and permitting side. We are also going to make sure that for every dollar that municipalities cut in development fees, the federal government is going to match that with 50 cents to help get new homes up easier,” he explained. 

Mr. Williams added that eliminating the GST on new homes under $1.5 million will only help buyers.

NDP Priorities

A Picton business owner, Ms. Crothers said voters in this election could be complicit by allowing U.S. style politics to bleed north across our border. Or simply by voting for the same old government.

She committed to a subsidized senior’s dental program and a continued low cost daycare that started as NDP initiatives.

“The things that have put money in your pocket, the health care services that take care of you when you’re sick, the programs that help make it easier to put food on your table, they are all NDP initiatives.”

Green Ideas

Ms. Charlton said progressive Canadians are done with diversionary politics that get in the way of things that will benefit the country and its people. She said Canada is sorely lacking leadership, unity, a national goal and plan to get there.

“The people who fill the two Green Party seats at the House work harder than anyone else because they work across party lines to get things done for their communities. We need that attitude across all party lines,” she said.

Liberal Agenda

The Liberal candidate Chris Malette, former editor of the Belleville Intelligencer, noted Canadians were going to the ballot boxes April 28 for “the most consequential election of our lifetime.” Mr. Malette said he was proud to be a member of Team Carney and added the PM has already proven his worth as a strong and competent leader in a chaotic time.

He said he found throughout Prince Edward County and the rest of the riding an overwhelming confidence that Mark Carney is the most qualified person to oppose what he called the “orange menace.”

He decried the “Canada is Broken” narrative pushed by Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre as pure politics, and recalled area followers had even protested a visit by then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau using  threats and slurs. “What an embarrassing moment for all of us, especially considering how Belleville was portrayed on national news that evening.” 

Conservative

Mr. Williams said Canada used to mean good jobs, affordable homes, safe neighbourhoods and a strong border. 

But 20 per cent of Belleville residents are using Gleaners Food Bank regularly and 1/3 of the riding’s residents are food insecure. Violent crime in the Friendly City eclipses the Canadian average and drug dealers are back on the streets a day after being apprehended.

He said the Conservative Blue Shield program will fast track credentialing and testing of an estimated 10,000 physicians that have emigrated to Canada but cannot practice here. Mr. Williams said that would alleviate the crunch in a region that is short 50 family doctors.

“We can keep going down the dark narrow path of a Liberal government or turn to a new and better horizon of promise and prosperity for ourselves and the next generation of Canadians,” he said. “We will make life more affordable with a tax cut that will put $1,800 into the bank accounts of Canadian families. We will bring about jail, not bail, something our police have been requesting for a long time.” 

“This is a generational election that’s about leaving the country better for our children. Ask yourself, “Is it time for change? Because I believe it is.”