Climate change was once again the focus of a heated debate between Kelowna-Lake Country MP hopefuls at an all-candidates forum on Oct. 3.
Five of seven candidates were present for the debate at UBC Okanagan, which was one of over 100 similar debates focusing on the environment held across the country. Notably absent was the Conservative Party91裸聊视频檚 Tracy Gray, despite being invited.
Four of the five candidates that were present made it clear fighting climate change would be high on their to-do lists if they are elected on Oct. 21, while one candidate said he was less sure about the validity of the science surrounding climate change.
91裸聊视频淭here is no scientific consensus on the theory that CO2 produced by human activity is causing dangerous global warming, today or in the future,91裸聊视频� said People91裸聊视频檚 Party of Canada candidate John Barr, eliciting a chorus of 91裸聊视频渂oos91裸聊视频� from the crowd.
This prompted an interjection from moderator Rick Webber, who said: 91裸聊视频渋f you91裸聊视频檙e going to boo somebody, maybe boo the people who aren91裸聊视频檛 here.91裸聊视频�
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The other four candidates took similar stances on the threat that a changing climate poses. Liberal candidate Stephen Fuhr said that his party shares similar views with the NDP and the Green Party on what must be done, they just all have different ways of 91裸聊视频済etting there.91裸聊视频� He also said that a minority government is one of the biggest threats to moving forward on climate change.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 the most political thing that we91裸聊视频檙e dealing with and it91裸聊视频檚 very important to get it right,91裸聊视频� said Fuhr.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e looking at three options: one doesn91裸聊视频檛 want to do anything about climate, one does want to do something about climate, and one has no ability to do anything about climate change. Minority governments can work when both sides agree on something but they maybe don91裸聊视频檛 agree on the magnitude. When you have big divisive issues, and climate is a big, divisive issue, it shouldn91裸聊视频檛 be but it is. A minority government just isn91裸聊视频檛 going to move the yardstick on that issue.91裸聊视频�
READ MORE: 91裸聊视频楾his is a business decision91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频� Liberal candidate floats idea of strategic voting
The NDP91裸聊视频檚 Justin Kulik retorted Fuhr91裸聊视频檚 view, bringing up that a minority government gave us universal healthcare under Lester B. Pearson.
Less than convinced about the rhetoric of his peers, Barr invited his fellow candidates to have an open debate on the topic of climate change, which prompted one of the more turbulent moments of the night.
Kulik made it clear that he would decline the offer, adding that the other candidates likely would as well. This sparked a question from an audience member in which he told Kulik, 91裸聊视频測ou should be ashamed of yourself,91裸聊视频� for not stepping up to defend his beliefs.
91裸聊视频淩egardless of your beliefs, climate change is going to affect us all,91裸聊视频� Kulik replied.
91裸聊视频淚t doesn91裸聊视频檛 matter if you believe it to be real or not. Regardless of your beliefs, climate change is a fact.91裸聊视频�
The Green Party91裸聊视频檚 Travis Ashley felt that an open debate might be a useful practice.
91裸聊视频淚f given the chance, I91裸聊视频檇 love to persuade you guys to understand that climate change is real,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淲e can91裸聊视频檛 just throw rotten fruit at each other and say you91裸聊视频檙e wrong and you91裸聊视频檙e wrong. Let91裸聊视频檚 put it at the table and talk about it like we91裸聊视频檙e at a family reunion.91裸聊视频�
It was pointed out by independent candidate Daniel Joseph that the man who accused Kulik was the president of the Kelowna-Lake Country Peoples Party of Canada riding association, Peter Neville. Joseph formerly held the position before leaving in late March of this year due to what he called 91裸聊视频渞acist, homophobic and xenophobic views.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淥ne of the main reasons why I left the party is because instead of the People91裸聊视频檚 Party deciding to want to be an official opposition party, they decided to become a rhetoric machine,91裸聊视频� Joseph said.
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michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
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