Area residents got a chance to hear from the federal election candidates at the Huntsville Legion last night.
The four local candidates briefly spoke with the crowd before breaking out around the room to speak with residents.
Conservative Scott Aitchson said he wants to be our Member of Parliament because he will never stop fighting for what he thinks is best for the people of Parry Sound-Muskoka and the people of Canada.
“I’ve served now for just over five years as your Member of Parliament. I’ve been on the opposition benches and have done that role appropriately,” said Aitchson. “I have opposed, I’ve challenged, I have criticized, but I’ve also been constructive on occasions because I don’t agree with an awful lot of what the current Liberal government has done for the last nine years.”
Liberal candidate Geordie Sabbagh said he wants to be our Member of Parliament because he has lived what many have lived.
“I have hoped for a future where my son could grow up, not just safely, but proudly in this community and this place we call home,” said Sabbagh. “I do not come with easy answers, I do not offer perfect promises, but I come with a heart committed to service and a vision rooted in the strength of this community.”
The NDP’s Heather Hay said she wants to be our Member of Parliament because she wants to advocate for the most marginalized in the area, those experiencing poverty, living with disabilities, and newcomers to Canada. She said what Canada is experiencing is not a budget problem, it’s a revenue problem.
“There used to be a time when somebody with an average job in this community could buy a home and support their families. Kids could go off to school. We can’t do that anymore with two people working in a household,” said Hay. “It’s the oligarchs and the billionaires who keep sucking the wealth out of our communities. They’ve taken it from the lower class, they’re now taking it from the middle class and the government.”
Isabel Pereira, who represents the People’s Party of Canada, said she wants to be our Member of Parliament because she believes in service and community, adding she would support any policy and bill that benefits of the people of Parry Sound-Muskoka.
“I believe in a democracy, and I believe that people should have a choice to vote for their beliefs and their values. So, I put my name forward to be that representative,” said Pereira. “So if you want to explore what your principles and values are and see which party aligns with them, if that party is the PPC, there is a PPC on the ballot for this election.”
The election is on Apr 28. For more information, visit elections.ca.
