MP hopefuls gather for second all-candidates forum as election day looms

Update, April 25th, 12 p.m.: A previous version of this story contained an error. Electors cannot vote at Elections Canada’s returning officer or deputy returning officer’s offices on April 28th, they must go to their designated polling station. The story has been updated and Energeticcity.ca is happy to set the record straight.

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. – Candidates for the Prince George, Peace River and Northern Rockies MP race gathered at the University of Northern British Columbia campus for an all-candidates forum. 

David Watson of the People’s Party of Canada, 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 were all in attendance.

The four candidates also attended a forum in Fort St. John on April 15th at the Lido Theatre.

Peter Njenga, the candidate for the Liberal Party of Canada, was invited to both the Fort St. John forum and Prince George forum, but declined to attend either. 

In Prince George, the candidates were asked questions on a wide range of topics such as healthcare, the environment, housing, immigration and First Nations.

Unlike the Fort St. John forum, where all the candidates were asked the same questions, the Prince George forum featured unique questions for each candidate.

Watson was asked about his party’s strategies for enhancing medical care for rural and remote communities, whether the PPC would support hydrogen energy development and if smaller, more affordable homes would be beneficial in the current Canadian housing crisis. 

The candidate was also asked where the PPC stood on economic reconciliation with First Nations across Canada and how immigrants would be encouraged to settle in the Prince George, Peace River and Northern Rockies riding. 

He stated the PPC wants to place a “moratorium on all immigration” for the next two to three years.

“Most of the problems in this country stem from immigration and economics right now,” Watson said. 

Forbes was asked about supporting prescription drug payments and whether the country’s opioid crisis should be declared a national health crisis.

“This is an actual emergency…this is a flood of toxic drug supply,” Forbes said, emphasizing the Green Party’s support for the declaration. 

She was also asked about the consumer carbon tax, how the Green Party would reduce the number of “working, poor” Canadians and how many immigrants should be allowed into the country a year. 

“We need folks to come up here…our businesses rely on people who come up here,” Forbes said. 

When asked about the Indian Act, Forbes described it as “horrendous” and said the best solution to reparations would be an Indigenous-led solution. 

Longley of the NDP was asked about federal initiatives for recruitment, retention and support for healthcare professionals, as well as whether healthcare funding should or would be increased to the provinces. 

“The NDP believe in healthcare for everybody, we want to cover you from head to toe,” Longley said. 

Longely emphasized the importance of having a drug addiction treatment centre “on this side of the [Rocky Mountains],” and the NDP’s desire to move healthcare professionals from private clinics into the public medical system. 

He was also asked about streamlining the environmental review process for energy project applications, and stated the NDP “wants to make sure large projects get through and get done,” with some focus on green energy. 

“We’ve got to move forward, none of us are driving a horse and buggy now…we need to be looking toward,” Longley said. 

The candidate was also asked about the Fraser River bridge project, efforts to reduce the “record high” consumer debt in Canada and what support would be offered for businesses in recruiting and retaining international workers. 

“Canada has always been a leader in welcoming people to our shores,” Longley said.  

Incumbent Zimmer was asked about streamlining processes for internationally-trained healthcare workers and provincial adherence to the Canada Health Act in light of private health care.

He was also asked how the Conservative Party intends to support First Nations-led energy projects, hate crime laws, First Nations residential school survivors and the reduction of the poverty rate in Canada. 

“I’m not quite ready to accept that we all need to live in our vans,” Zimmer said in the context of smaller housing solutions such as tiny homes, communal living and mobile homes. 

When asked about immigration and if a Conservative government would support international students becoming permanent residents, Zimmer called Canada “a country of immigration.”

“[The Conservative Party] support immigration, we just need to do it the right way,” Zimmer said. 

Tensions rose during the event when Longley alleged the Conservatives and Liberal leader Mark Carney had shares in Brookfield Corporation, an investment management company. Zimmer objected and Longley retorted Zimmer was “poor”.

The final opportunity to vote in the 2025 Canadian federal election is April 28th, official voting day, when electors must vote at their designated polling station.

To register to vote, prospective voters will need to provide information on their driver’s licence, be a resident of Canada and confirm they will be 18 years of age or older by April 28th. The deadline to register to vote by mail was April 22nd.

On voting day, all voters must identify themselves in one of a variety of ways at the polls.

They can present one piece of government-issued identification with a photograph, name and current address, such as a driver’s licence issued by any Canadian government – be it a provincial, federal or territory government.

If you do not have photo identification, voters can declare their identity and address in writing, and have someone who knows them or who is assigned to their polling station vouch for them.

Check out Energeticcity.ca’s new digital Election Guide, which includes everything voters need to know to make an informed choice ahead of voting day on April 28th.