A Q&A session with 91原创鈥檚 five federal candidates, held at 91原创 Seniors Village, soon developed into a debate over the state of Canada鈥檚 health care system on Monday afternoon.

Among three questions put to the speakers was the issue of federal health care funding and increasing wait times for medical services.

The residents鈥� council at the Willoughby seniors鈥� residence drew up the list 鈥� which also included questions about pensions and political accountability 鈥� ahead of an afternoon visit from the candidates vying to be 91原创鈥檚 representative in Ottawa following the May 2 vote.

Speaking first to about 30 of the seniors, Liberal candidate Rebecca Darnell said that Canada鈥檚 鈥榳orld famous鈥� health care system has been 鈥榮everely neglected鈥� by the Harper government since it took office in 2006, leading to unacceptable wait times.

A big reason for that, she said, is that not enough doctors and nurses are being trained to keep up with demand.

One solution, Darnell suggested, is to make it easier for foreign-trained health professionals to practise in Canada.

鈥淚鈥檝e told people if you want a doctor, call a cab,鈥� she said, because many foreign-trained physicians are working as taxi drivers while they wait to be accredited.

NDP candidate Piotr Majkowski, who works as a nurse, suggested that health care dollars are simply being wasted.

鈥淗ealth spending has to be directed,鈥� he said.

鈥淚 get upset when health authorities spend money not on health.

鈥淲e don鈥檛 need fancy hospitals. We need nurses and doctors.鈥�

He called the recent treatment of patients in a Tim Hortons  at Royal Columbian Hospital 鈥渁n embarrassment鈥� and added that longer waits for care mean patients often have to be treated for worse conditions.

Government鈥檚 priorities are wrong, Majkowski said, when millions are being spent on fighter jets, while seniors live in poverty.

鈥淲hen we fund people out of poverty, health care will be cheaper.鈥�

鈥淭hrowing more money at (health care), as the last two governments have done, has not done much to reduce wait times,鈥� said Green party candidate Carey Poitras. While there is a need for more doctors and medical equipment in Canada, she said focusing on preventative care and providing more long-term care beds in proper facilities will be key to reducing the cost of health care.

Taking several opportunities to point out that this is an unnecessary $300 million election spurred on by an opposition coalition, Conservative MP Mark Warawa agreed there is a need for better health care in Canada.

He pointed to a $30 billion (33 per cent) increase in federal funding for health care provided by the current government, but added that Ottawa counts on the provinces to set health care priorities and deliver service.

鈥淪ome questions are more appropriate for an MLA or provincial minister.鈥�

However, he pointed to two instances where the Conservatives were able to take a direct role in health care in B.C.

Warawa alluded to items in the current federal budget that are aimed at improving health care 鈥� including improvements to palliative care.

鈥淏ut we need to pass the budget,鈥� he said, in a reference to the non-confidence vote that led to the coming election.

The government fell over the contempt issue, not over a failed budget, Darnell shot back.

Also in the budget, which remains in limbo, are measures to help seniors, such as changes to the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), said Warawa, in response to the seniors鈥� question on pensions.

鈥淚t鈥檚 part of the package, it鈥檚 part of our budget, to ensure it鈥檚 increased.

鈥淲e need to honour seniors and ensure they have increased pensions.鈥�

鈥淭he Harper government has neglected seniors and neglected pensions,鈥� said Darnell.

A Liberal government under Michael Ignatieff would enhance and increase what鈥檚 available under the Canada Pension Plan as well as the GIS, she said.

Poitras echoed the need to increase the Guaranteed Income Supplement, while Majkowski reiterated his party鈥檚 mandate 鈥渢o take every senior in Canada out of poverty.鈥�

Craig Nobbs, a candidate for the Pirate party, spoke last, focusing on the main plank in his party鈥檚 platform 鈥� copyright and patent issues.

The Pirate party is committed to a free and open government, he said, that would allow people access to information without having to put forward a Freedom of Information request.

Nobbs added his party would ensure Canadians鈥� medical records 鈥渨on鈥檛 be shared with agencies that don鈥檛 need them.鈥�

He warned that there is a bill in the works that would see vitamins and other non-prescription medications become available by prescription only 鈥� leading to filling fees not entirely covered by MSP.