Kitchener-Waterloo debate
Posted Apr 28, 2011 09:54:38 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The federal election candidates for Kitchener-Waterloo answered a variety of questions during a debate Thursday night, which was broadcast live on 570 News and Rogers TV.
The first question was a local one. The candidates were asked what they would do to ensure the growth of the riding.
Liberal candidate Andrew Telegdi pointed to his past record on Parliament Hill, saying, “One of the things that I did when I was a Member of Parliament is help start organizing the high-tech sector and I did that by initiating the start-up of Communitech.”
Green candidate Cathy MacLellan said the focus should be on our Universities and College, saying, “This is where a knowledge-based economy finds it’s best resource.”
The NDP’s Bill Brown said funding for a public transit system and education will be key to Kitchener-Waterloo. Conservative incumbent Peter Braid said he’s already helped to deliver federal support to the community including the Institute for Quantum Computing and the Perimeter Institute.
With more students making their voices heard this time around, the candidates were also asked what they would do about rising tuition.
Brown said his party would make education more affordable. He pledged, “An NDP government will initiate a transfer of 800 million dollars to the provinces that will then be administer by the universities in order to reduce tuition.”
Telegdi said his party would invest a billion dollars to assist students with tuition.
Braid pointed out that the Tories helped establish the Canada Student Loan Program and, “…have made enhancements to that programs over the course of its duration, including in the recent budget.”
MacLellan said the government needs to create an environment that provides quality jobs for graduating students. Independent Richard Walsh-Bowers said Canada can afford to fund post-secondary by taking back tax cuts from the wealthy.
A caller asked Telegdi directly about his attendance record when he was in Parliament. Telegdi pointed out that the time he missed, he was travelling with the Citizenship and Immigration Committee. He added, “..the timeframe I was there, I spoke five times as many times, 55,000 odd words, in a session of Parliament, than the person who succeeded me.”
Brown pledged to be present for votes to represent his constituents whenever it’s required.
Braid said that he’s proud of his record saying that, “…it’s well into the 90 percentile range. The only votes I’ve missed are votes where I’ve been outside of Ottawa on committee business.
MacLellan says the leaders should get some leeway because of their extra responsibilities but MPs should be present for as many votes as possible.
