Taxation, trade and immigration were among the issues addressed at the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce federal election debate.
Immigration sparked one of the most notable exchanges of views.
Saskatoon-Grasswood People’s Party of Canada candidate Mark Friesen said their policy of capping annual legal immigration at a no more than 150-thousand will make the system more manageable while respecting culture. He called it a policy made by Canadians for Canadians.
Saskatoon-Grasswood N-D-P candidate Ericka Richie called the People’s Party policy fear mongering saying she is proud of Canada’s diversity and character feeling immigration should not be cut back because it’s inclusive and economically beneficial.
Tracy Muggli, a mental health and addictions worker running for the Liberals in Saskatoon- Grasswood says constituents are telling her the Child Tax Benefit needs to be protected and more money needs to be devoted to dealing with meth addiction in the city.
Prince Albert Conservative M-P Randy Hoback advocates giving tax experts sufficient time to review the system and help redesign one that simplifies the process and called for an end to the Carbon Tax.
Muggli argued there are several examples of the government’s carbon pricing policy being successful elsewhere, while Ritchie called it a price on polluters and incentives need to be offered to people for carbon cutting changes to their homes.
The Green Party Candidate for Saskatoon-University Jan Norris said a western based oil refinery should be built with the finished product shipped to eastern Canada until the economy can transition into one that is ecologically based.
Norris said the party believes in localizing not globalizing and called for the renegotiation of the Canada-US-Mexico trade deal.
Hoback told the audience the Conservatives would balance the budget in five years fearing a quicker process would hurt the economy, while Friesen said the People’s Party could balance the budget in two years through measures like tax reform and cutting corporate welfare.
