Peter McIntyre Tuesday, 05 May 2009 107.5 KISSFM
Most of the candidates said afterwards, it was one of the best forums of the Vernon Monashee campaign. About 200 people came out for the event Monday night at the Performing Arts Centre, and all six candidates were on hand. One of the questions was if the candidates supported the Single Transferable Vote and the only candidate to actually endorse it was Huguette Allen of the Greens. Liberal Eric Foster doesn't think its the best system, the NDP's Mark Olsen said he would leave it up to people to decide, while the BC Refed's R-J Busch feels residents should have more than just one alternative to choose from.
Other topics included the future of Jubilee Hospital and the generous benefit packages for BC MLA's who are quitting. BC Conservative candidate Dean Skoreyko drew one of the biggest cheers of the night by saying he would scrap the severance program that sees each departing MLA get 127-thousand dollars. A number of striking paramedics were in attendance and several posed questions to Eric Foster about their working conditions. Another popular question concerned the Vernon school district cuts, and school funding. New Democrat Mark Olsen feels the funding formula for schools needs to be revamped, as costs are not keeping up with inflation despite Liberal claims its the most funding ever.
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