The writ is yet to drop but parliamentary candidates are already thinking about the upcoming election.

And, so is the electorate.

In front of around 150 people at the Mary Irwin Theatre on Saturday night, 11 of 12 MP hopefuls from both the Kelowna-Lake Country and Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola ridings faced voters for the first time this election season.

The forum saw CBC香蕉视频直播檚 Chris Walker throw several complicated issues to the candidates, with only two minutes to answer the night香蕉视频直播檚 main topics and one minute for audience questions. Topics such as pharmacare, income security, national housing and seniors香蕉视频直播� care, were covered.

Through their answers, those accustomed to the hot-seat and those fresh to federal politics showcased personalities and policies.

READ MORE: Award-winning Kelowna poet entertains during Culture Days

READ MORE: Curtis Sagmoen pleads not guilty to allegedly threatening sex worker with a gun

John Barr, the People香蕉视频直播檚 Party of Canada candidate for Kelowna-Lake Country, answered a question about how his party would get pipelines built, something that has been lauded by party leader Maxime Bernier. His answer elicited scattered laughs throughout the audience.

香蕉视频直播淲hat will I do?香蕉视频直播� said Barr, who spent much of the night leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed. 香蕉视频直播淕ee, I don香蕉视频直播檛 know how to answer that question.香蕉视频直播�

He continued, 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檒l answer it as best I can. I understand that Bernier has means in which to enforce, based on the economic means of the country, that these pipelines get built. That香蕉视频直播檚 my answer.香蕉视频直播�

Walker prodded him for a more specific answer as to what those means would be, to which Barr responded: 香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 know what those means are.香蕉视频直播�

Others also garnered laughs, although through more intentional methods.

When asked about why he wanted to be MP, Robert Mellalieu, Green Party candidate for the Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola riding, explained he understands it香蕉视频直播檚 a tough job, citing the amount of the time he香蕉视频直播檚 seen incumbent Conservative MP Dan Albas spend away from home.

香蕉视频直播溝憬妒悠抵辈ウ And besides, my wife says I should go as often as I can,香蕉视频直播� Mellalieu said, extracting chuckle from the crowd.

He also ended every question with a variable one-liner that drew more giggles as the evening went on.

香蕉视频直播淰ote Green, vote smart, vote for Rob.香蕉视频直播�

NDP candidate for Kelowna-Lake Country, Justin Kulik, drew his praise more in applause than in laughter.

He opened the night by stating he is the youngest federal candidate in Canadian history at just 18-years-old.

His age, however, did not hold him back from taking jabs at the more experienced politicians at the table with him.

When answering a question about how his party would finance universal pharmacare he turned the ire towards the Liberal Party.

香蕉视频直播淭hey say they香蕉视频直播檝e supported universal pharmacare since 1993,香蕉视频直播� Kulik said. 香蕉视频直播淭hey spent many of those years in government, and many of those in a majority government. The question is: why haven香蕉视频直播檛 you gotten it done? The answer is: because it香蕉视频直播檚 a carrot they香蕉视频直播檙e dangling in front of you for elections that they香蕉视频直播檙e going to pull away on Oct. 22.香蕉视频直播�

Kulik was also asked whether or not he supported detox for addicts before housing. His answer prompted raucous applause from the audience.

香蕉视频直播淚 support taking the scientific approach to do whatever makes the most sense,香蕉视频直播� Kulik said.

香蕉视频直播淪tudy after study has found that requiring people to detox before housing them is not effective. What has been found is that by giving them a place to call home is the first step in allowing people to integrate themselves into society.香蕉视频直播�

Present candidates for Kelowna-Lake Country also included incumbent Liberal MP Stephen Fuhr, Conservative Tracy Gray and the Marijuana Party香蕉视频直播檚 Darrin Fiddler.

Gray was present for the first half of the forum but had to leave early due to a prior commitment. Green Party香蕉视频直播檚 Travis Ashley was not present due to a wedding he had committed to cater before he became a candidate.

Other candidates in attendance for Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola riding included incumbent Conservative MP Dan Albas, Liberal Mary Ann Murphy, the NDP香蕉视频直播檚 Joan Philip, Allan Duncan for the People香蕉视频直播檚 Party of Canada and the Marijuana Party香蕉视频直播檚 Brynn Jones.

As of right now, three more federal election forums are scheduled for the Central Okanagan ridings:

• Sept. 19 - 7 p.m. at the Kelowna Senior Citizen香蕉视频直播檚 Society hall
• Sept. 21 - 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Kelowna Downtown Library
• Oct. 16 - 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at the Coast Capri Hotel

Election day is Oct. 21.

michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
Like us on and follow us on .