All seven candidates running in the riding of Sarnia-Lambton-Bkejwanong participated in a discussion on Tuesday night, which covered a broad range of topics from affordable housing, trading relationships, and healthcare.
The Sarnia-Lambton Chamber of Commerce and the Sarnia-Lambton Association of Realtors held the event at the Dante Club on London Road.
The upstairs meeting space was almost completely full as residents listened to what the candidates had to say ahead of the April 28 federal election.
Each participant was given three minutes for opening remarks, two minutes for each question, and two minutes for closing comments.
While each question was based on a different topic, at times the answers intertwined with the current relationship between Canada and the U.S. amid the ongoing tariff dispute.
Most candidates agreed there needs to be a focus on supporting the petrochemical industry.
People's Party of Canada candidate Brian Everaert said Canada needs to negotiate with U.S. President Donald Trump instead of announcing retaliatory tariffs due to concerns of how it could impact Enbridge's Line 5.
Incumbent Marilyn Gladu said the Progressive Conservative government wants to build an energy corridor to make the country energy-independent, creating a spinoff for small businesses.
NDP candidate Lo-Anne Chan said while oil and gas will remain essential, the riding does need to be adaptable with the transition to clean energy and those types of investments would end up supporting the agriculture sector as well as supply chain resiliency.
Candidates were asked about how their party will increase access to affordable housing for both renters and first-time home buyers.
Gladu said affordable housing is the number one priority in this riding. She said a Conservative government will incentivize home building in municipalities.
"We have to start building homes that people can get into. Not only are we taking the GST off of the new homes to a value of $1.3 million but we need to start building the homes that people can afford," she said. "CMHC should be helping people get into homes and we need to prevent the barriers that are keeping young people from ever having the hope of having a home."
Liberal candidate George Vandenberg said aside from introducing tax incentives, the party would create a federal agency to oversee the building of 500,000 new affordable homes and utilize public land for that purpose, as well as inject $25 billion in financing for home builders.
"My role, make Ottawa aware of the challenges we face here, ensure that this riding receives assistance for reducing development charges, and is considered as a location for building [prefabricated] houses," Vandenberg said.
He also referenced a charitable organization, Indwell, and their mission to create supportive housing. Vandenberg said it's something he hopes to make part of the Liberal platform.
Given our proximity to the U.S., candidates were asked about their stance on strengthening cross-border trade and protecting Canadian interests in future negotiations.
Chan said the new democrats are going to show "a strong face."
"We have a plan for retaliatory tariffs, cutting off the supply for critical minerals that they need in the states, and diversifying our international partners," Chan said. "That way we're not relying solely on one particular client but we have other options and diversification there."
Libertarian Jacques Boudreau called the concept of retaliation "madness" and said it will only hurt Canada's GDP.
"We should negotiate, remove irritants... if that doesn't work, then we wait it out," Boudreau said. "It amazes me how short-term the memory of people seems to be, because we've had this for the last month, it appears like people think it's going to be like this for the next 100 years -- not true. Four years from now, they'll have a new government. In fact, I think the pressure internally are changing Trump's mind already. So sometimes you just have to wait it out instead of doing something stupid."
If the trade dispute with the U.S. were to continue for a long time, Boudreau said a Libertarian government would provide targeted temporary relief.
Christian Heritage Party candidate Mark Lamore said the U.S. is still Canada's largest trading partner.
"Are there things where we could move? Sure. Are there things where they can move? You're talking to a guy, like Donald Trump, who's in business, who's a negotiator, of course he's going to ask for more," Lamore said. "Everything's a negotiation, nothing is set in stone and the U.S. is still our best ally to deal with, and that's just a fact."
Rhinoceros Party of Canada candidate Tony Mitchell again joked about threatening the U.S. by scaring republicans with drag queens reading children's books.
The candidates were asked what their parties would do to address long wait times in hospitals and address staff shortages.
Libertarian Boudreau said healthcare falls under provincial jurisdiction.
The PPC's Everaert agreed with Boudreau and said his party wants to give up the GST to the provinces to let them decide how those dollars are spent. However, he did note that there needs to be more of an investment in training young people to work in the sector.
"We have to start investing in our own Canadian people," Everaert said. "Like I said, I think you can cut a whole bunch of fat out by letting the provinces collect their own taxes and distribute it like they see fit."
The last question of the night focused on how each party plans to balance economic change with climate change.
Vandenberg said the Liberal Party will ensure Canada remains "an energy superpower" in both clean and traditional energy. He also noted that in order to become less reliant on the U.S. and diversify into the European market, Canada needs to invest in clean technology.
Christian Heritage Party candidate Lamore criticized the term "climate emergency" and questioned whether Canada is going to continue to "shoot ourselves in the foot" while other countries continue to pollute.
Rhinoceros Party candidate Mitchell responded to every question with a joke. However, during the closing remarks, he ended with a message on the importance of voting.
"I know I'm not going to win but doing this is not a waste of time as some people have insinuated to me," said Mitchell. "I've been given an opportunity to explain and communicate my disgust with the political system and how it's dividing Canadians. Don't you think it's strange that our politicians are demonizing people who disagree with them with hatred? Yes, I mean hatred, for any Canadian who disagrees with them. What took us to bring us together was a convicted sexual predator and a felon to attack us. I'm giving people who feel the same way, like me, a place to park the vote."
Advance polling stations are scheduled to open this weekend, from April 18 to April 21.
Meanwhile, all seven candidates also participated in last week's meeting hosted by the Lambton Federation of Agriculture. A video from the meeting can be viewed on YouTube.