by PAUL RAYNER

Despite the absence of the incumbent, the candidates for the other national parties were able to give students and the general public a glimpse into their platforms and viewpoints prior to the federal election on October 14.

On October 6, Dave Barnes of the Green Party, John Bouche of the New Democratic Party and MJ Willard of the Liberals attended a Rural Forum at Boissevain School hosted by the Grade 11 History Class. Emceed by Ivan Strain with introductions of the candidates by class members, the evening began with opening statements by each candidate before moving into a question period.

First up was Barnes. A teacher known for the popular EcoOddssey program, he said he grew up in Winnipeg at a time when many options were available for young people, but said that he was somewhat less encouraged now. People could once be inspired by speeches from the old party leaders like John Diefenbaker, Lester Pearson or Tommy Douglas, he said, but he feels the parties have changed. There is a need for the Green Party now, to deal with modern problems.

 “There is a different orientation,” Barnes explained, “It is more grassroots. We are a party of ideas and at long last we want to speak of ideas. We are a party that wants to discuss the future of the country.”

He contrasted that with other parties, who, particularly with their ads, deal with negativity, with a “don’t vote for the other person” philosophy. Known as an environmental party, even though Barnes reminded the audience they were not a one-trick pony, he mentioned taxing polluters and taking taxes off “modest living”. Although happy as a teacher, he said he was willing to give that up to serve Brandon-Souris.

“I would give up the job I love more than any other to go to Ottawa. An effort needs to be made and I am willing to make it.”

Bouche started with a run down on the NDP platform, including removing the $50 billion in tax cuts to corporations the Conservative government has given, and using the money for different uses. He spoke of the need to train more doctors and nurses, and cut the wait time for professionals to become accredited to work in their field. He waded in on the Canadian Wheat Board question, by stating it was up to the farmers, without government interference, to decide its fate. Perhaps feeling the heat on the environment from the Greens, he mentioned the NDP was the first party to recognize the environment as a problem in 1983, but they were laughed at by the Tories and Grits at the time.

He chided the Conservatives for creating an election law and then bringing their own government down early, at a cost of $325 million. He also appealed to his party’s core constituency.

 “The NDP is the only party in this country that looks after working people and students,” Bouche said.

Willard, a physician and veterinarian, said there needs to be a greater interest in rural issues. Getting doctors and nurses into rural areas is a priority, as is re-population, which can only be done by creating worthwhile careers in rural regions.

She said she chose the Liberals because they had a balanced plan. In part, the focus of leader Stephane Dion on the environment is important.

 “We can no longer build factories that pollute,” she explained, “We need to focus on geothermal, properly harvesting forests, etc. We need non-polluting industries to help the economy. We need to leave this a better place than we found it.”

The Grade 11 students had the first shot at questions. Not surprisingly, the first was regarding the high cost of post-secondary education. Bouche suggested a deal where a student who received a degree, and agreed to stay in Canada for 10 years, could have their loans forgiven. This concept, similar to the return for service contracts for health care education, also received thumbs up from Willard and Barnes, who commented that tuition fees were too high at any rate.

How do we keep people in rural areas? Bouche, an engineer and conductor with CN, suggested helping out the rural economy by re-opening rail branches and elevators and helping young people take over farms as a way to reinvigorate the countryside. Willard said there needed to be some incentives.

 “We need to make it worth your while. We need good jobs, industries in small communities.”

This also held for Willard in regards to attracting health care professionals, keeping enough economic activity to keep the patients. Bouche said the NDP platform earmarked $1.2 billion for training new physicians and fast tracking foreign doctors. Barnes warned about the creeping hand of privatization with health care, and the importance of making sure we stand by the tradition of health care by government.

When discussing high gas prices, both Bouche and Willard discussed a need to look into gouging. The NDP candidate went further; discussing a need to cap prices like is done in Mexico and Venezuela. He however ran into the only real tough situation of the night by saying he did not believe we would ever run out of oil as there was enough in Saskatchewan for “hundreds of years”. As the use of petroleum products is not simply a supply problem, but an environmental one, he allowed questioners and his opponents to bring up the high costs of extraction and the need for different solutions.

“Petroleum is not unlimited,” said Barnes, “There is an end to it. Even Peter Lougheed described northern Alberta as a ‘moonscape’. We need to work on alternatives.”

“We need to stop extracting oil,” Willard added, “We need to make the transition from fossil fuels.”

Interestingly, the absence of Conservative incumbent Merv Tweed might have made a difference in the questions asked and discussions held. For example, questions about “stopping Harper” through a coalition government would have been hard to imagine had the MP chosen to attend. Barnes reminded those in attendance that a coalition is unlikely practically, as the party with the most seats is normally asked to form the government. Willard said the Liberals were willing to work with other parties, as there was not enough difference between the non-Tories to prevent it. Bouche said the NDP has been trying to stop the Harper agenda, but found the other parties in Parliament were willing to prop them up.

 “We tried to work with the others on this,” Bouche said, “and we will try again. We will see if the other parties will follow suit.”

After the forum, the NDP candidate, looking at his party’s rise in the polls, said he felt their chances were solid to reach Official Opposition status, something they have never done before.

“I think we have a good chance. We’re changing the minds of a lot of voters. I’m surprised that a lot of Liberals and Conservatives are putting up my signs. We don’t want to count our chickens until they’re hatched, but we are on the move and people want representatives that will work for them and their needs.”

Willard, whose party would be the one suffering for Dipper gains, responded to the obvious question of Stephane Dion’s leadership by saying he was being judged by his appearance – geeky, too professorial – instead of on his platform. As she said, it takes more than one person to make a government.

 “As far as his leadership,” she stated, “he has his act together. What we have is a dream team, and he knows how to work with a group and how to listen. It takes all of the MP’s to make a government.”

Barnes said his Green Party is making inroads in Brandon-Souris, and with 13% nationally at last count, doing the same across Canada. He feels the party could get their first elected seats this time around, as many as half a dozen. His own campaign, he said, has been powered by young people, and admitted that he and his party might have seen more benefit out of the Boissevain evening than the others.

 “My natural constituency is high school students,” he said, “This type of event is important for young people. They are facing scary times, and by and large a lot of people aren’t speaking about the problems, about the truth. But the young people are ready to.”

Teacher Troy Innes was also happy with the evening. An idea brought to the school by David M. Neufeld as a way to get young people involved in democracy, he said it fit perfectly with his unit on government in History class. Although disappointed that Tweed and the Conservatives chose not to attend, he felt his students still got a lot out of the evening.

 “For me, it was a proactive way to get the students to learn about politics,” Innes explained, “It gave them some experience, talking to candidates, talking about the issues important to the community. For me, the big thing was the practical experience.”

He praised the candidates involved for talking to the kids without “talking to a high school class.” He plans to continue these forums in the future.

“We look forward to the next election, probably provincial, to have an opportunity to do it again.”