Candidates face tough questions

Published: April 30, 2009 6:00 PM Roger Knox - Vernon Morning Star

As both a veteran and a 17-year retired school board trustee, Lumby’s George McQueen has fought his share of battles and been faced with making some tough decisions. So, at a Vernon-Monashee all-candidates forum at the White Valley Community Centre in Lumby Wednesday, McQueen asked five of the six candidates perhaps the most poignant and straightest question of all during the two-hour event. “If push came to shove, which would you choose: your party’s policies, your constituents’ views, or your conscience?” asked McQueen, a question that generated some gasps among the 50 people in attendance.

“Gee, are there going to be any tough questions?” chuckled Vernon’s Mark Olsen, NDP hopeful, who had the task of being the first to answer. “Hopefully, they would all line up, but I like to believe I’m of the opinion that I would go with my conscience if it was for the benefit of the constituency.” Eric Foster, the Liberal candidate and Lumby mayor, said at the end of the day, there’s only way to go and that’s with his conscience. Lumby’s Huguette Allen, representing the Green Party, said if she was elected, she would make sure there was constant dialogue with the constituents. “The easy answer is to do what the constituents want, that’s who I work for if elected, but how do I know it’s what all the constituents want?” said Allen. Conservative and Refed Party representatives Dean Skoreyko and R.J. Busch, respectively, both said they would go with the views of their constituents.“So, the consensus is, the party’s out and conscience is in?” asked McQueen, to which the majority of candidates nodded. Independent Gordon Campbell was not at the forum, which was hosted by the Lumby Chamber of Commerce.

The candidates were given a chance to introduce themselves before answering four prepared questions from the chamber, dealing with such topics as taxes, building a road to Lumby from Silver Star Mountain Resort and the single transferable vote referendum on May 12. The question, though, that generated the most heat was a question that hit close to home with several of the candidates and those in the crowd. The quintet was asked where they and their party stand on the new meat processing regulations that have shut down many small farms in the riding. “Scrap it. Get rid of it,” answered Skoreyko, who is a Coldstream resident. “There’s only one party in favour of it and that’s the government that’s in place. Why was this regulation event put in place to begin with? It’s a ridiculous policy and we would scrap it right now.” Foster believes the policy was put in place by his party to ensure food safety. “If we don’t have our meat inspected, we can’t ship it across the line,” said Foster, in reference to exporting meat to the United States. “However, there are obviously some serious concerns for small producers and, if elected, I will take those concerns to Victoria.” Busch grew up on a farm where cows, pigs and chickens were slaughtered regularly.“For a lot of people in this area, this is their livelihood,” said Busch, who lives in Coldstream. “For those who have to shut everything down, they have nothing to leave for their children. Why was this brought in without talking to the people it affects?” Olsen called the meat regulations a “lose-lose-lose situation for everybody,” while Allen put the blame on the federal government for taking away food safety from Health Canada in 1996.

Questions from the floor dealt with such topics as the rising cost of land, education and the future of children, development, affordable and seniors housing for Lumby and where candidates stood on the paramedics strike across the province. Seven striking paramedics peacefully greeted forum-goers at the door, handing out strike information leaflets, and held up signs saying “Save Our Paramedics” during the forum.

There are two upcoming chances to talk to Vernon-Monashee candidates about issues during the election. One public forum will be held Monday at 7 p.m. at the Vernon Performing Arts Centre, while Vernon Women In Business will host a luncheon forum on Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. at the Schubert Centre.The cost for the WIB luncheon forum is $16 for non-members. Call 503-7856 for more information.