It was almost a full house at the Genesis Theatre in Ladner Wednesday evening for the Delta Chamber of Commerce’s second federal election all-candidates debate.
Liberal incumbent Carla Qualtrough, the Conservatives’ Tanya Corbet, New Democrat Randy Anderson-Fennell, Green candidate Craig DeCraene, the People’s Party of Canada’s Angelina Ireland as well as independents Tony Bennett and Amarit Bains once again answered a variety of questions, from what would they do to lower the tax burden on Canadian households to their plans to upgrade Delta’s dikes and protect farmland.
The first question posed asked what they’d do about money laundering and improving transparency when it comes to real estate.
DeCraene responded that more resources were needed for the RCMP to deal with the issue.
Corbet said her government would launch an inquiry into money laundering in the real estate sector which is inflating the price of homes.
Anderson Fennell said his government would invest $20 million for a new RCMP anti-money laundering unit.
“This unit will be tasked with investigating and seizing the proceeds of real estate money laundering and those funds will be funneled back into affordable housing. We also support a national inquiry into money laundering and create a national registry listing the names of those who use shell companies to hide their investments in real estate,” he explained.
Bains said the justice department also needs better funding.
“In late 2017 and early 2018, there was a large money laundering investigation that took place. What ended up happening was all charges were dropped. That’s because our federal government doesn’t have the resources or the talent or the skills necessary to prosecute large international money laundering operations. Police did their job…” he said
Ireland noted “we don’t need a royal commission, we don’t need another inquiry” because the country, already having FINTRAC (Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada) and other agencies, simply needs to tighten the rules.
Qualtrough noting the previous Conservative government gutted the RCMP’s organized crime unit, said the government needs to work collaboratively in assessing and blocking organized crimes’ dealings with real estate.
Asked what they would do to combat climate change both locally and nationally, Corbet answered her party has come up with the most comprehensive plan proposed by an opposition party.
Anderson-Fennell, noting he’s seen how climate change has taken place over the years, outlined his party’s extensive policy which includes energy retrofits for homes as well as electrifying transit.
Bains, saying he supports the Conservative plan for green energy tax credits but also the Green platform, noted research and investments are needed to shift to other fuel types.
Saying climate change has always been occurring, Ireland said collaboration with other levels of government and experts is key, adding the problems won’t be solved by big government and taxes but through technology and innovation.
Qualtrough also outlined her government’s initiatives and pledge including having clear, binding targets and, among other things, reducing corporate taxes for those that develop green technology. She also talked about her party’s platform on protecting wild salmon.
Bennett talked about the three R’s as well as the need for hydroelectric dams and other infrastructure which will also create jobs.
DeCraene also outlined his party’s policy which includes cancelling the Trans Mountain pipeline and fossil fuel subsidies, as well as providing a massive energy retrofit program for residential and commercial buildings.
On the question of what one new initiative they’d introduce to make home ownership more affordable for first-time buyers and seniors, Anderson-Fennell talked about doubling the homebuyers’ credit as well as co-housing and co-ownership mortgages, while Bains noted incentives were needed for developers to increase the supply.
Ireland, noting housing is within provincial jurisdiction, said the best move is to lower taxes, while Qualtrough assured her government would do more including increasing homebuyer incentives.
Bennett used the opportunity to once again go over his proposal for a government land bank plan for affordable home ownership called CHAPS (Canada's Housing Affordabilty Planned Strategy).
DeCraene, saying housing is a fundamental human right, explained his party’s strategy for increasing the housing co-investment fund and a co-op housing strategy, while Corbet pledged to improve the mortgage stress test which she says has become a barrier to young families.
The Massey Tunnel replacement came up yet again with the candidates asked how they’d support it.
Saying $80 million has been wasted on the environmental assessments, Bains noted any new funding must include rapid transit, while Ireland, saying it’s within provincial jurisdiction, complained the federal leaders are “pulling a stunt” by trying to make it an election issue.
Qualtrough countered the crossing is a major commuter and trade corridor and what’s not needed is another meeting or restart but “to build the darn thing.” Noting funding will be available, she said it’s now time the B.C. government figure out an option.
DeCraene said as long as there’s a SkyTrain extension or light rapid transit “it sounds good to me.” Corbet noted what’s been missing his leadership on the issue and that her party’s leader, Andrew Sheer, promised to make it a critical infrastructure project.
Anderson-Fennell once again talked about how it would be an ideal candidate for a community benefits agreement which would create jobs.
As far as when they’d balance the budget, Qualtrough explained how the economy had stalled under the previous government, so her government had made a commitment early on to invest in people and communities to get the economy moving, while DeCraene said it would be balanced in five years. Corbet, saying fiscal responsibility is needed, otherwise the current spending trajectory will burden today’s children, talked about a five-year target.
Anderson-Fennell said he won’t make promises he can’t keep but vowed the New Democrats would install a more fair tax system.
Ireland said the budget can be balanced in two years, which can be achieved in part by cutting corporate welfare and stopping billions from being sent overseas.
Some of the other questions posed to the candidates included how Canadian laws would be in harmony with the United Nation’s declaration of Indigenous people’s rights and how they would deal with the opioid crises.
The election takes place Oct. 21.
- Organized by several Delta residents, including the Delta Naturalists, a debate focusing on environmental issues will take place this evening at KinVillage in Tsawwassen. The forum is part of the “100 Debates on the Environment Project” campaign by the national environmental group GreenPac. It takes place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
- The Probus Club of South Delta is hosting an all-candidates debate for its members on Wednesday, Oct. 16 at the Coast Tsawwassen Inn, starting at 9:30 a.m.
