Video Our riding: PPC candidate’s policies and platform for the federal election 2025

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Ahead of the 2025 Canadian federal election, regional MP candidates are answering questions posed by locals on topics spanning local, regional and national topics. 

Four of the five candidates for the Prince George, Peace River and Northern Rockies MP seat sat down with Energeticcity.ca to answer questions submitted by readers during a survey conducted in the first week of April.

All five of the candidates were invited to conduct the interview either in person or virtually, and only one declined to participate. 

This interview features David Watson, the candidate for the People’s Party of Canada (PPC). 

What are your thoughts on Northern Health and what is your party’s plan on addressing healthcare funding, specifically the nursing shortage?

Watson explained specific healthcare funding was a provincial responsibility, rather than federal, and funding was provided to the provinces through the Canada Health Transfer.

He did state the PPC desires “drastic” changes to this system and the Canada Health Act which dictates this process of funding. 

“[The PPC] would like to scrap the entire health act as it sits right now, and make it into a different act,” Watson said. 

“That way, the provinces have more control over what they’re doing and how they do it, and the funding will come only from the provinces.

“In order to provide that funding so they have it, we would make room within the tax system by lowering taxes.”

What is your opinion on LNG in the region and expanding our market to Asia? 

“We should have been doing that for years,” Watson said. 

The candidate expressed dissatisfaction that the “west has to pay” for energy used in the east, adding the government had used this situation as a “tool” for years to “try to restrict certain abilities of the individual provinces.”

“The more we can do in the energy sector, as long as it is safe, and as long as it is reasonably easy to get to in case of an accident, there should be no reason why we shouldn’t be able to do just about anything,” Watson said. 

What is your response to tariffs and the future of our trade relations with the US?

Watson stated Canada should “never” have tariffs against the United States, as they hurt Canadians the most. 

“I don’t know why any government would ever choose to put taxes on their own people unless they just want to make them pay,” Watson said. 

“When you’re looking at tariffs from the American side, well that’s a different story.

“It does affect how much business we might do, but it’s not affecting us other than that they pay the taxes on their side,” Watson said. 

What is your opinion on the carbon tax? 

Watson stated he did not believe the tax was a good thing, and referred to it as a “fake tax.” 

“It’s just a tax to take more money in another way, it’s an additional value-added tax on the people of Canada,” Watson said. 

Watson detailed the “three value-added taxes” currently in place in B.C.: the PST, GST and carbon tax, and the effect they have had on Canadians.

“That’s why everything seems to go up so fast in price, because you have it magnified every time it goes through another hand.”

What is your idea of the future of energy in our region?

The candidate expressed his confidence and optimism about the future of energy in the region, stating he has “big hopes” for the years to come. 

“With advancements in technology, we’re getting farther and farther ahead, and we’re going to be able to do things a lot faster,” Watson said. 

“We’re going to be able to do things a lot cleaner, and we’re going to be able to get a lot farther ahead, so I have nothing but good thoughts.”

How will you make housing more affordable for seniors?

“The only thing the Canadian government can do at the federal level is basically provide money to the provincial governments, and we want to get out of that business,” Watson said. 

According to Watson, the PPC wants the provinces to “take care of their responsibilities themselves,” once the federal government “vacates” certain areas and allows more funding autonomy. 

“For instance, reducing administrative overhead on something, getting houses passed with less paperwork,” Watson said. 

“If we can sweeten the pot just a little bit, that’s where we can help.” 

What is your opinion on the Firearms Act?

The candidate stated he felt the legislation did a “poor” job and was “over-expensive.”

“[The act] requires enormous amounts of funding on an annual basis, and that funding increases every so many years,” Watson said. 

Watson proposed eliminating the act, and bringing in a new one which prioritizes legal gun ownership approval once in a lifetime. 

“You are approved one time, and you’re approved for life after that point in time.

“The only thing that’s going to come up to change that is if you commit a crime, especially a crime using a gun, then you lose your rights but otherwise you’re never going to lose your rights.” 

Why should people vote for you?

“I’m not making any empty promises,” Watson said. 

He explained he has spoken to many people since becoming the PPC candidate in October of 2023, and does not intend to be a politician who ignores constituents.

“The only promise I make to everyone is that if someone calls me and asks me a question, I’m not going to ignore them, I’m going to respond to them,” Watson said. 

“It’s not going to satisfy everyone, but at least if people get an answer, they have something they can walk away with.” 

This is one in a series of four video interviews conducted with each candidate running for the Prince George, Peace River and Northern Rockies MP seat in the 2025 Canadian federal election. Each candidate was asked the same questions in the same order, with each one recorded in the Moose Media studio. 

Other interviews in this series feature Mary Forbes of the Green Party of Canada, Cory Longley of the New Democratic Party and incumbent MP Bob Zimmer of the Conservative Party of Canada. Peter Njenga of the Liberal Party declined to participate.