CORNWALL, Ontario – The Cornwall Chamber of Commerce will host a federal candidates debate in partnership with TV Cogeco tonight at the Cornwall Civic Complex.
The debate will be held in Salon B of the Cornwall Civic Complex beginning at 7 p.m. The debate will be televised live, in High Definition, on TV Cogeco’s channel 700.
According to the chamber, all four candidates for Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry, including incumbent Conservative MP Guy Lauzon, Liberal Bernadette Clement, NDP Patrick Burger, and Green Party Elaine Kennedy have confirmed their attendance.
There are a number of issues tied to the upcoming election that impact the Cornwall region, said chamber president, Denis Carr.
“We’d like to see more federal support for economic development,” said Carr. “A recent report in the National Post revealed that over half the government’s $2-billion Municipal Infrastructure Loan Program went to the province of Quebec. We’d like to see a more equitable balance with Ontario getting its fair share.”
Carr also pointed to the new international crossing.
“We are a principal gateway, not only to Cornwall and the Counties, but to Canada itself. The chamber would like to see both the Federal Bridge Corporation and the federal government step up with funding to help create an entry to the city that showcases both our region and the country as a whole.”
Broader issues for the upcoming election include taking steps to revitalize Canada’s economy which is currently lagging behind other countries. In addition, an abundance of issues surrounding Parliament Hill have brought with them questions of leadership from all three main parties. Then, there is the matter of Canada’s security in the current climate of terrorism.
“The debate will give people from across Cornwall and the counties a chance to hear the platforms from each of the candidates to determine where they stand on the issues at hand,” aids Carr. “On election day, the chamber urges voters throughout the Cornwall region to get out and vote. A strong turnout sends a clear message that our constituency expects results.”
The debate begins with a moderator posing a series of questions to each of the candidates followed by a scrum.
The public in attendance will also have an opportunity to ask questions of each of the candidates.
