First election forum was a mulligan; candidates will get better

Sep 23, 2018 | 8:07 AM

THE FIRST CAMPAIGN FORUM of the new civic election season Saturday was a lot more valuable to the candidates than it was for the 40 or so people who listened to them try to answer questions.

That’s the way it always is with this event sponsored by the Council of Canadians at the Farmers Market.

Almost nothing of any substance is revealed by the candidates, and a lot of what they have to say proves their sketchy grasp of the issues and their dearth of knowledge of what City councils do.

But that’s OK. The forum is a great chance for them to dip their toes in, test their nerves and get in a little practice. One candidate confessed to “being cold and nervous, not a good combination,” and she probably wasn’t the only one.

Even the less nervous, more knowledgeable ones couldn’t really say much in a minute. How do you offer anything useful in 60 seconds on big issues such as affordable housing, climate change, food security, marijuana legalization and arts and culture?

How do you adequately explain your vision for the city beyond saying, as Alison Klie did, that “we should really become a shining centre in B.C.”? Not that anyone could argue with that.

All of them will get better. They’ll learn that if they don’t know the answer to a question, not to make stuff up. When asked if schools should be turned into community centres during the summer, for example, they won’t stumble around thinking the popular answer must be yes, instead of knowing there’s been a City-school district joint-use committee on such things for 30 years or more. Maybe the candidate who flubbed that one will instead ask a few questions of their own, such as what would happen to summer maintenance on the schools, what are the cost implications and whether there’s a demonstrated need for such massive spaces for summer activities.

There were positive signs, though. Jennifer Adams, for example, took copious notes during the forum (and has faithfully attended City council meetings for months). That kind of homework and attention to detail is good to know about.

And instead of steering down the middle on a question about the best use for the old McArthur Island golf course, Jim Johal let there be no doubt he favours the nature park concept and that the disc golf proposal should be moved somewhere else.

Maybe others will follow his example, because Kamloops needs decisive people on council who aren’t afraid to take a stand, not fence sitters who talk about how awesome everything is.

Today was a mulligan. Stick with them — in another month, candidates will be able to explain more clearly why they deserve to serve.