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Candidates weigh in on the issues at debate Ryan Graham Observer Reporter It was a packed house at the Federal candidate forum at CNC Quesnel campus with the candidates bringing their platforms to the forefront. All candidates were present, which included Todd Doherty of the Conservatives, Tracy Calogheros of the Liberals, Adam De Kroon of the Christian Heritage Party, Trent Derrick of the New Democratic Party, Independent Sheldon Clare and Richard Jacques of the Green Party Questions: 1) How would you ensure that post-secondary education is affordable for young people in our region? De Kroon: “Making sure
that Canadian students have priority at our universities is a priority. One thing we see sometimes is universities taking so many international students that people that live here have trouble getting into courses at the universities.” He also noted that his party would give the money straight to the students, which they could than decide on their university choice. “It would increase competition among universities for students which would naturally bring down prices and it would also provide students more flexibility where they could direct their funds.” Derrick: “It’s a place worth putting money,” noting he sees the cost to students as a major
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concern. He believes in cutting interest on student loans, so students can pay off their loans earlier. Derrick also sees an increase of grants a positive step. “We also have a plan in place to create 50,000 new grants for students in order for them to access, so funding is more accessible.” He says the NDP want to invest in students, as their priority. Clare: “We should not be sending young people out for their first jobs bearing the burden of huge debt. At the same time we should encourage people to be able to fund their education and provide the opportunities that allow them to do so.” Clare believes some money should be given provincially and the other should be targeted, so it
creates flexibility in funding to get to the students that need it. Jacques: “Get rid of tuitions and invest in our kids education,” noting an elimination date of 2019. Calogheros: “Doubling the amount of grant money their able to receive and providing that grant money to them upfront when they need to actually pay their tuitions. It’s the quickest way to be able to get that money in to the hands of students.” She also believes in investing in education for aboriginal students with an additional $50 million per year supporting aboriginal education in post-secondary. Calogheros also supports working with the provinces to make better decisions concerning education.
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Doherty: He highlighted the establishment of the Canada Student Grants Program that the Conservatives established, noting the ease of access. He also noted the Conservatives have eliminated taxation on scholarships and given tax credits and grant to students, as well as increased the limits of the RESP’s so people can save more for education. “We need to make sure that we have opportunities here at home and we need to make sure that our children and our families have opportunities for seats for education here.” 2) One of the NDP commitment is to end oil subsidies, where is the money coming from? Derrick: Highlighted the party is concentrated
on investing in small business and communities to create more jobs. “Right now Canada has the lowest tax rates for corporations in the western world and at the same time with those we’ve lost 4,000 manufacturing jobs.” Clare: believes we need to look at a broad issue of the whole economy when it comes to corporate tax rates.”I do believe that you can make adjustments to corporate tax rates to reward those who perform and punish those who pollute,” Clare said. Jacques: believes oil subsidies should be eliminated and the corporate tax rate should be raised to 19 per cent. The extra money, he said, would than be reinvested back into the system. See PAGE A2
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