Candidates vying for the Member of Parliament seat for Skeena-Bulkley Valley faced off in a head-to-head debate last night, organized by the Kitimat District Chamber of Commerce.<\/p>\n
NDP incumbent Taylor Bachrach was the main target of the evenings proceedings with several other candidates, primarily the People\u2019s Party Jody Craven and the Conservative candidate, Claire Rattee, trying to point out failures and shortcomings during Bachrach\u2019s last two years as a rookie MP representing one of the largest \u2013 geographically speaking \u2013 ridings in the federation.<\/p>\n
Reconciliation was a top issue that had all the candidate calling out the Liberal Government on their inaction and slow response to reconciliation with Indigenous peoples in the make of hundreds of unmarked graves being discovered at several locations across the country.<\/p>\n
Adeana Young, the sole Indigenous candidates up for election, said reconciliation starts with respect. \u201cTruth and reconciliation to me is respect and reciprocity. Recognition of the truth and acknowledging the truth. The green party of are the only party whop rejected the Doctrine of Discovery to respect Indigenous sovereignty. As an Indigenous woman running in a federal election, moving towards reconciliation is not coming in with bias to being an Indigenous woman, it means coming in with open ears and an opportunity for us to work collaboratively,\u201d Young said.<\/p>\n
Affordability, infrastructure needs, reducing green house gas emissions and economic recovery following the COVID-19 Pandemic were all subjects of debate throughout the evening.<\/p>\n