Residents in the 91原创-Abbotsford riding had the opportunity to meet some of their candidates on Wednesday, Sept. 25, during the first local debate of this election season.
BC NDP candidate John Aldag, independent Karen Long, and BC Libertarian candidate Alex Joehl participated in the all-candidates debate. BC Green Party candidate Melissa Snazell attended the meeting to introduce herself, but could not join the debate due to finishing her paperwork and the late announcement of her candidacy.
Andrew Sigalet, a member of the Bertrand Creek Enhancement Society (BCES) which organized the debate, began with pre-submitted questions that focused on climate change, drug addiction, the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR), and traffic congestion.
"The ALR is critical. We need to respect the ALR. We have about [75 per cent] of ALR in 91原创, so I think we need to look towards how we can preserve and manage it when it comes up for people sending in applications to remove land from the ALR," Long said on the topic of the ALR's future.
Aldag echoed similar statements.
"I've heard from many residents that the ALR is very important to our community... there's value to having farmlands conserved for lifestyle and the environmental benefits they offer," he told the crowd, adding that he'd want to explore solutions to truck parking in the area.
Joehl questioned why the land wasn't being returned to Indigenous nations, and that land from the ALR should be used for urbanization.
"What I'm arguing is, if it's not going to be arable land, we need to pull it out and start actioning it for growth in other areas."
Some topics of question brought forward by the audience included limits on provincial government becoming overstepping with municipal governments, affordable housing, recruitment of doctors and nurses, and building a passenger rail system through the Fraser Valley.
Kirk Robertson, member of BCES, said these events are very important for the community to be able to hear their candidates' opinions.
"It's an opportunity for the candidates to hear from the community... I think door knocking you're seeking votes. When you go to an all-candidates meeting, you're interacting with a different cross-section of the community 鈥� and that's important."
The next debate for 91原创-Abbotsford is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 2, at the Aldergrove Heritage Hall (3015 273 St.). Doors open at 5:30, with the debate starting at 6 p.m.
