Chilliwack Votes: Question #7

The initiative Chilliwack Votes has been asking the six Chilliwack-Hope candidates a series of weekly questions about various issues in the lead-up to the October 19th federal election.  They have allowed us to post the candidates responses here.  Here is Question #7.

Security has been a major issue this election. Security, however, is broadly defined and attached to many different circumstances ranging from the environment, energy and the economy, to public safety and terrorism. What is the most immediate and pressing threat to our security and why?

Thomas Cheney (Green Party)

In regards to security, it is vital to admit that we live in an incredibly safe country. We need to ensure security laws do not needlessly impede civil liberties.
Concerning coincidences regarding the security services and groups ideologically opposed to government policy have already occurred. An example (of many) involves our former MP Chuck Strahl who was a lobbyist for Enbridge while sitting on the intelligence and security review committee (Strahl did resign once this became public). Based on this, it is concerning that groups opposed to the Northern Gateway Pipeline such as Dogwood Initiative and Forest Ethics were spied on by CSIS.
The problem with the emphasis on security in a neverending “war on terror” is that it allows gross violations of due process. There is a saying from Ancient Rome, “Inter arma enim silent leges” which means “in war the law falls silent”.

Louis De Jaeger (Liberal)

Rather than pander to the politics of fear, Voters in this election want a government focused on economic security.  Incomes are not keeping up with the cost of living and we are all falling further behind. Liberals have a strong economic plan that will create more jobs by nearly doubling federal infrastructure investment to almost $125 billion over the next 10 years. By cutting the middle class tax bracket by 7% we will put more money in your pockets. We will invest in much needed social infrastructure that will include affordable housing and accessible, inclusive child care spaces. Nine out of ten families in Chilliwack-Hope will receive more from the Canada Child Benefit program, lifting 315,000 Canadian children out of poverty.  Our seniors’ economic security will also be bolstered by an enhanced Canada Pension Plan and an increase in the Guaranteed Income Supplement for single, lower income seniors.

Alexander Johnson (Libertarian)

We need to ask how can we ensure the safety and security of all Canadians.
We can start by protecting their property. Allowing people to own the air above and ground below; not just the soil on top of their land. Remove protections of corporations and allow citizens to seek financial compensation from those who harm their property or devalue a resource such as poisoning well water with toxic run-off.
We can allow safe and responsible gun ownership to be free from Federal burden, free up $100 million of tax payer money by removing the Chief Firearms Officer, and let Provinces issue their own mandates that will better suit those people.
We can turn the attention of CSIS away from Canadian citizens and towards foreign visitors and migrants.
And we can bring our troops home, stop poking a bees nest with a stick and asking why we keep getting stung.

Seonaigh Macpherson (NDP)

For generations, Canada’s security has been built on a reputation as a honest broker and a partner for peace. Stephen Harper has badly damaged that reputation and reduced our standing in the world, so much so that Canada lost its seat at the UN Security Council.
I look forward to working in a Tom Mulcair government to undo this damage. Together, we can restore Canada’s global stature and provide leadership on key global issues like poverty and climate change.
Even as he abandoned our traditional peacekeeping role, Stephen Harper has slashed veterans’ benefits and closed Veterans Affairs offices across the country. Over the past decade, we have lost more Canadian soldiers to suicide than to combat in Afghanistan. This is profoundly wrong.
New Democrats know that Canada must honour its obligations to women and men in uniform when they go into harm’s way to uphold our security.

Dorothy-Jean O’Donnell (Marxist-Leninist)

Our security lies in the defence of the rights of all. Immediate and pressing threat is the violation of rights, in particular Bill-C-51. This bill and related legislation threatens to crush dissent, to impose arbitrary definitions of terrorism including criminalizing First Nations’ defence of their hereditary rights, protest against pipelines, and even strike struggles of workers. Renewal Update the publication of the Marxist-Leninist Party of Canada is an on-line paper published daily during the election which has extensive coverage of the fight against C-51. We encourage people to search out information on these and other topics and inform themselves in order to play an active role on October 19th.

Mark Strahl (Conservative)

Our Conservative government has been focused on keeping Canadians secure. We’ve cracked down on crime to protect our communities; taken the threat of jihadi terrorism seriously, both at home and abroad; and protected the economic well being of Canadians by keeping taxes low, returning to a balanced budget and providing significant direct support to families and seniors.
Protecting our fragile economy during this time of global economic uncertainty is our number one priority.
While the other parties are promising higher taxes on families and seniors, higher payroll taxes on workers and employers and higher taxes on job creators, our Conservative government has a four year Economic Action Plan which will cut taxes and keep them low.
Canada can’t afford the massive tax hikes and permanent deficits proposed by the Liberals and the NDP. Now is the time to protect our economy with the proven economic leadership of our Conservative government.

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