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Election 2015 — Candidates discuss matters of trust

Why should we trust you and your party to represent us in Ottawa?
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Election 2015

In the weeks leading up to the Oct. 19 federal election, the Summerland Review is asking a series of questions to the four candidates in the riding of Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola.

Why should we trust you and your party to represent us in Ottawa?

Dan Albas

Conservatives

Canadians famously will recall the Liberal party once promised, if elected, they would abolish the GST.

This is why trust is so important in this election.

Our government made a commitment to reduce the GST and we delivered on it. Eliminating the long gun registry, repealing the Canadian wheat board that only applied to western farmers & not farmers located in eastern Canada were also promises made that our Government delivered on.

More recently our government promised a balanced budget in 2015 and this week’s report of a $1.9 billion surplus for the 2014-15 fiscal year demonstrate that once again our government delivers on our commitments.

Why is this important?

Today Canadians have the lowest federal tax burden in decades and our commitment is that we will not take more of your money in increased taxes and send it to Ottawa.

The Conservative plan is the only one promising low taxes and balanced budgets that support a strong economy.

Both the Liberals and NDP are proposing to massively increase spending and taxes. This is not working in Europe and will not work in Canada.

Our Conservative government has made record investments in infrastructure and locally has increased conservation areas.

Robert Mellalieu

Greens

Trust is a very big issue with voters.

Voters see the corruption in government (not just bad mistakes). I believe this is one of the main reasons that the voter turnout is so low.

The Green Party has always been a beacon of solid science and facts. We make evidence based decisions.

Being a long time conservative before being Green I am very careful to ensure we can be accountable for the dollars and the environment — and to my amazement it works every time.

I have run my business for 23 years in the Okanagan. Many of my clients have been with me all those years.

I feel that is also very good evidence that I am trustworthy.

Karley Scott

Liberals

I have spent the last several years working towards becoming a lawyer and I value being able to speak my mind.

I believe that caucus should be filled with critical, independent thinkers who have the ability to disagree without being disagreeable and a leader who welcomes contrasting ideas.

This riding deserves a representative who has these skills and the freedom to exercise them in Ottawa. I believe I am that person.

I spent the last several years working towards becoming a lawyer and I did not put that on hold to pursue a career that would stifle my voice.

I am also a strong believer in using fact and evidence to inform decision-making.

The Liberal Party of Canada has a plan to invest in growth and Canadians because that is what Canadians are telling us and it is what the evidence concludes.

I am committed to using my skills to stand up for this riding in Ottawa and the Liberal Party of Canada is committed to making decisions based on evidence.

Those two factors are fundamental and I hope they instil the degree of confidence you will need to place your trust in me.

Angelique Wood

New Democrats

The NDP knows that we need to work on our economic stability, and we need to refocus the priorities from subsidizing the gas and oil industry back into our countries’ citizens who have worked hard their whole lives.

The Parliamentary Budget Office has released a report which shows that the NDP has the best track record in Canada, of both provincial and federal parties for balanced budgets.

We can’t even believe the Harper Conservatives when they tell us we’re not in a recession when the impartial reports tell us that we are actually in a recession.