In the late 1980s to mid-’90s, the North Island-Powell River riding was considered a tight race between the federal New Democratic Party and Reform/Conservative parties. According to political pundits, that tradition continues toward October’s election.
Conservative leader Stephen Harper made a stop in the riding last week while on the federal leaders’ campaign trail, visiting Campbell River but not Powell River.
The riding has seen a number of party leaders visit over the months in the run-up to the election. NDP leader Tom Mulcair visited the riding last March to help rally support for his candidate, Rachel Blaney, while Green Party leader Elizabeth May visited in July to help Brenda Sayers launch her campaign. Liberal leader Justin Trudeau, however, has yet to visit the riding to stump for candidate Peter Schwarzhoff.
August began with Maclean’s Magazine’s national leader’s debate and brought issues such as terrorism, defence spending and democratic reform to the forefront. The next scheduled leaders’ debate, hosted by Globe and Mail newspaper, will happen on September 17, and will see Harper, Trudeau and Mulcair debating the state of the Canadian economy, a critical issue as voters head to the ballot box. Then on September 28 the leaders will faceoff again for the Munk Debates, this time to talk Canadian foreign policy.
The Peak is asking readers to send in questions around the issues which matter to them in this election. Then the newspaper will select four questions to ask candidates and publish candidates’ answers during September. Questions can be sent to [email protected].
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