A Thursday morning Microsoft Teams meeting was the site for the latest all-candidates debate for Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston MPP hopefuls. This one was hosted by Lanark County Child and Youth Services, and each candidate was asked four questions and given three minutes to respond.
Progressive Conservative Party candidate John Jordan sent his regards but was not in attendance as he has tested positive for COVID-19.
It was a respectful affair with few attacks on respective parties plans or past, as the candidates outlined their ideal ways of approaching the issues.
Mental Health was a topic discussed at length, and Liberal candidate Amanda Pulker-Mok highlighted their parties plans to educate more people.
Drew Cumpson said the NDP platform guarantees children mental health services within 30 days.
Green Party candidate Marlene Spruyt says they plan to expand all mental health services under OHIP and increase the funding of these services to 10% of the total healthcare budget.
Regarding Ontario’s children and families living in poverty and low-income, Cumpson says the NDP are committing to true universal income.
Spryut says the Greens want to immediately double the rates for ODSP, offer a basic income guarantee, and determining minimum wage on a regional basis to make each region livable.
Pulker-Mok doesn’t believe there’s a single answer to addressing child poverty in Ontario, but one thing her party intends to do is expand the student nutrition program, which offers free healthy breakfasts to all students.
When it comes to truth and reconciliation, all candidates said more work must be done and they need to learn more from First Nations groups.
Spruyt said there’s no easy fix and the first step is consultation.
Pulker-Mok referenced the Calls to Action and the Truth and Reconciliation Report as a guiding tool, including addressing generational trauma, and to improve the child welfare system while reducing the number of indigenous children in it.
Cumpson said the NDP wants to work with First Nations and make sure they’re in charge of the child welfare system in their own communities.
Other topics discussed during the debate were the school bussing system and bullying in school and online.
Story by Grant Deme
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