The Liberals’ record over nearly a decade in power was at the centre of local debate on Monday night in the riding of Nipissing-Timiskaming.
Conservative candidate Garry Keller frequently referred to the “lost Liberal decade” as the three candidates discussed the economy, housing and bail reform in a debate at the YourTV community television station in North Bay.
“For the last nine years we’ve had a Liberal soft on crime, hug-a-thug policy that has created an increase in crime in our neighbourhoods,” said Keller, who has been a longtime strategist for the Conservatives.
He took aim at Bill C-75, which was designed to streamline bail processes and address concerns about the over-representation of Indigenous people and other vulnerable populations in the criminal justice system.
It doesn’t matter what’s happened in the past.– Liberal candidate Pauline Rochefort
But Keller said the bill relaxed bail conditions “for all sorts of common criminals.”
In her response, Liberal candidate Pauline Rochefort, the current mayor of East Ferris, said crime has been down in North Bay since 2020, referring to the city police force’s crime severity index.
On issues including the economy, housing and Canada’s response to U.S. tariffs, Rochefort said Liberal Leader Mark Carney is the best person for the job.
“It doesn’t matter what’s happened in the past,” she said.
“The world has changed in four or five months with the arrival of Donald Trump. And it’s all a matter of how we go forward from this point on. And that for me, is Mark Carney.”
Taxes, taxes, taxes
On the issue of the cost of living, Keller attacked Rochefort’s record as mayor of East Ferris.
“In just the last seven weeks, East Ferris taxes have gone up by 6.3 per cent,” he said.
“And two years ago taxes went up by an eye-watering 10 per cent. Liberals love to tax, tax, tax.”
Keller touted the Conservatives’ promise to drop the tax rate on the lowest income tax bracket from 15 per cent to 12.75 per cent.
New Democrat candidate Valerie Kennedy said her party would increase taxes on millionaires and billionaires, and use those revenues to support working-class Canadians.
“We’re going to take care of everyone in Canada by giving everyone a living wage with dignity,” she said.
All three candidates agreed Canada needs to meet its 2 per cent NATO target on military spending. North Bay is the home of Canadian Forces Base 22 Wing.
But Keller questioned if the Liberals could be trusted to meet that commitment.
“The Liberal government has had 10 years to make these promises and they haven’t delivered,” he said.
Candidate statements
Green Party of Canada candidate Louise Poitras was not able to attend the debate. In a statement, read by moderator Clarke Heipel, she said her goal was to create a healthier and greener future for communities in the riding.
People’s Party of Canada candidate John Janssen submitted a video in which he said his party would “stop massive immigration” and “end woke nonsense, restoring true Canadian values and focusing on restoring our economy.”
With the retirement of Liberal Anthony Rota, Nipissing-Timiskaming will pick a new MP on election day April 28.
