A debate held in a Centretown church Monday about the issue of poverty in Canada became a squabble between audience members and federal election candidates from Ontario and Quebec.
When the debate, which was held in the Dominion-Chalmers church on Cooper Street, was turned over to audience questions, most inquiries focused on controversial election topics unrelated to poverty in Canada.
Apart from two questions concerning poverty in Canada, audience members wanted to know how the candidates would respond to alleged corruption in the arts funding process; how they would vote on issues such as euthanasia; and how they would support the gay, lesbian and transsexual community.
Most of these questions were rejected by the moderator, CBC radio host Adrian Harewood, as being unrelated to the topic of the debate.
The common thread in the questioning was the audience’s frustration with the lack of a community voice in political decision-making.
"There's not enough democracy. We need more public control," said one audience member, a single mother and former childcare worker.
She also disagreed with the Liberal Party's proposed $350 child tax benefit, saying it was out of touch with what poor families really needed.
Willowdale (Toronto) Liberal candidate Martha Hall Findlay defended the her party’s policies, arguing the tax benefit will have a positive impact on reducing poverty and that concrete funding and programs are needed.
Other candidates present at the debate were Ottawa Centre Green candidate Jen Hunter, the NDP’s Gatineau candidate Francoise Boivin and Real Menard of the Bloc Quebecois, a candidate in Hochelaga, Que.
The Conservative Party did not send a representative.
All the candidates agreed the parties should work together to eradicate poverty in Canada by setting meaningful targets and implementing an effective poverty reduction strategy.
"Political coherence is important," said Hunter.