It香蕉视频直播檚 not something one usually encounters in a political debate between candidates - civility and respect.
Those attributes were evident throughout a forum featuring two of the candidates seeking to win the Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream riding in the Oct. 19 provincial election.
香蕉视频直播淚 am not here as part of a political machine, to push a party agenda or bash party leaders or their policies,香蕉视频直播� said Independent candidate Kevin Kraft at the event hosted by the Kelowna Chamber at Coast Capri Hotel.
B.C. NDP candidate Anna Warwick Sears told the audience that she is a centrist.
香蕉视频直播淚 believe we need the best possible representation for our communities, and this election cycle the NDP will be best for our region."
Conservative Party of B.C. candidate Tara Armstrong and B.C. Green Party candidate Andrew Rose were invited to the forum, hosted by CBC morning host Chris Walker, but did not attend.
Helping People Work/Live in the Okanagan
香蕉视频直播淲e want to make sure there are homes here that are affordable and attractive for them,香蕉视频直播� Warwick Sears said. 香蕉视频直播淭he NDP leaned into building all kinds of housing香蕉视频直播hey香蕉视频直播檙e looking at many options. They香蕉视频直播檙e working with communities to get more housing into the Okanagan."
Kraft said a thinking-outside-the-box housing plan is needed.
香蕉视频直播淲e need to treat rural and agriculture areas with creative thinking in adding housing, secondary suites, and agri-tourism. Families in the Okanagan are struggling. Youth are struggling to find jobs that have meaning and value and are compensated appropriately.香蕉视频直播�
Fixing the Budget
香蕉视频直播淭here is no doubt the province is in a significant deficit position,香蕉视频直播� Kraft noted. We should be frustrated with how our budget and money are being allocated. I香蕉视频直播檇 like to be taxed slightly less and not given rebates and be prescribed as to how to spend my own money.香蕉视频直播�
He said increasing the PST by one per cent might be one solution to help reduce the deficit.
香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 just throwing it out there, but it香蕉视频直播檚 time to get creative.香蕉视频直播�
Warwick Sears said the current budget deficit was entered into deliberately, soberly and what is best for B.C. in mind.
香蕉视频直播淚f we have to have a larger budget deficit for time while we get through this global inflationary cycle where everyone is stretched香蕉视频直播e need to support our people so that when the economy starts to go up we will have things in place and people will be able to thrive.香蕉视频直播�
She added the expectation is at least two more years of budget deficits.
Crime/Drug Decriminalization
香蕉视频直播淲hat I香蕉视频直播檝e seen in communities like Rutland where I grew up is香蕉视频直播pplications of all types of centres and services throughout the area. What I香蕉视频直播檇 like to see is a guided model to more centralized services香蕉视频直播o ensure that communities are feeling heard with the issues that they香蕉视频直播檙e facing with the placement of some of these centres.香蕉视频直播�
Warwick Sears disagreed with centralizing services.
香蕉视频直播淥ur riding is so far-flung. We can香蕉视频直播檛 have homeless people with no cars trying to access mental health services in one centralized location. I do think it香蕉视频直播檚 important to choose where those locations are and make sure they are not interfering with the community.香蕉视频直播�
Transportation/Second Lake Crossing
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 an irksome issue,香蕉视频直播� Warwick Sears said. 香蕉视频直播淭here are options within our existing transportation footprint to improve intersections and flow of traffic. One of the proposals I香蕉视频直播檝e heard is widening the existing bridge香蕉视频直播erhaps with a bus-only lane.香蕉视频直播�
Kraft said there is no doubt work needs to be done on the transportation corridor in the Okanagan, but throwing a bridge at it is not a logical approach.
香蕉视频直播淚t took the better part of 30 years to build the last bridge and I don香蕉视频直播檛 see it being accomplished in eight,香蕉视频直播� he said, referencing a Conservative promise to build a second crossing in that time span.
香蕉视频直播淭here are desperate needs elsewhere,香蕉视频直播� he added, pointing to needed improvements on Westside Road.
Water Management
香蕉视频直播淕et plans in place ahead of time,香蕉视频直播� Warwick Sears said. 香蕉视频直播淲e want to have all the different water suppliers having robust drought plans and that they know what to do if their reservoirs are not as full as they should be.香蕉视频直播�
Kraft agreed with a proactive approach but said the region is 香蕉视频直播榖ehind the eight-ball香蕉视频直播� on work that could be done on reservoirs.
香蕉视频直播淲e have two high-elevation reservoir systems that could be increased in retention, storage and application. We also need to consider the forestry industry and their practices around water tributaries, protecting the ecology from top to bottom.香蕉视频直播�
The Kelowna Chamber is hosting candidates from Kelown-Centre on Oct. 10 at the Coast Capri.
