By Chad Klassen

CANDIDATES DEBATE

PREVIEW: Kamloops candidates square off at CFJC studio

Oct 14, 2020 | 5:03 PM

KAMLOOPS — The major party candidates in both Kamloops ridings squared off today inside the CFJC studios.

Candidates in the Kamloops-South Thompson and Kamloops-North Thompson ridings debated a variety of topics, including economic recovery around the COVID-19 pandemic, housing supports, and the overdose crisis.

Green candidate Dan Hines took the first shot in the Kamloops-South Thompson debate, questioning the biggest campaign promise — the Liberals eliminating the provincial sales tax (PST) for one year.

“It’s going to put us into even more deficit. We’re already running a $12 billion deficit this year,” said Hines. “I know that [Liberal leader] Andrew Wilkinson said last night at the leaders debate that we can absorb more deficits. I think there’s a real big question around that.”

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Liberal candidate in Kamloops-South Thompson Todd Stone responded, saying, “What we need is a bold measure that is going to leave money in the pockets of small businesses as well as individuals to really jumpstart this economy.”

Stone got in his own jabs, pointing to the NDP’s housing record. “Homelessness is up under this government. That’s a fact. Vulnerable populations are not getting the support they need, and that’s what local governments are telling us, that’s what small business people are telling us, that’s what the vulnerable populations are telling us more has got to be done,” said Stone. “It’s not good enough to just scoop people up, put them into modular housing units and then largely walk away.”

NDP candidate Anna Thomas said, “We need stable housing and we need more wraparound supports that are inclusive and available for everyone.”

CFJC moderator James Peters also hosted candidates from the three major parties vying to be MLA for Kamloops-North Thompson.

A big talking point as around the province’s secondary health emergency — the overdose crisis. The issue of treatment beds for those struggling with addictions was brought up.

“There was an announcement about funding more treatment beds. There’s 120 sitting empty right now that just need government funding,” said Liberal candidate in Kamloops-North Thompson Peter Milobar. “Why are we going to wait three years to build a new facility instead of funding the existing empty beds that are there right now.”

NDP candidate Sadie Hunter replied, “Peter brought that up in a forum last week and it’s simply not true. There’s a difference between treatment beds and recovery beds. There are detox beds that are full all the time.”

Green candidate Thomas Martin wants politics left out of the opioid crisis. “People are dying. That’s what we’re talking about here. We’re not talking about politics. This isn’t about trading talking points. This is pure and simple — people are dying. We need our politicians to not try and score political points. We need our politicians to look at the evidence, look at what the experts are telling us, look at what works. We need to implement anything we can do to save lives.”

Tonight’s Kamloops North Thompson debate begins at 7:00 p.m on CFJC TV, and the Kamloops South Thompson debate will air at 7:00 p.m Thursday (Oct. 15).

Both will be available for online viewing after airing at CFJCToday.com.