It91裸聊视频檚 not something one usually encounters in a political debate between candidates - civility and respect.
Those attributes were evident throughout a forum featuring two of the candidates seeking to win the Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream riding in the Oct. 19 provincial election.
91裸聊视频淚 am not here as part of a political machine, to push a party agenda or bash party leaders or their policies,91裸聊视频� said Independent candidate Kevin Kraft at the event hosted by the Kelowna Chamber at Coast Capri Hotel.
B.C. NDP candidate Anna Warwick Sears told the audience that she is a centrist.
91裸聊视频淚 believe we need the best possible representation for our communities, and this election cycle the NDP will be best for our region."
Conservative Party of B.C. candidate Tara Armstrong and B.C. Green Party candidate Andrew Rose were invited to the forum, hosted by CBC morning host Chris Walker, but did not attend.
Helping People Work/Live in the Okanagan
91裸聊视频淲e want to make sure there are homes here that are affordable and attractive for them,91裸聊视频� Warwick Sears said. 91裸聊视频淭he NDP leaned into building all kinds of housing91裸聊视频hey91裸聊视频檙e looking at many options. They91裸聊视频檙e working with communities to get more housing into the Okanagan."
Kraft said a thinking-outside-the-box housing plan is needed.
91裸聊视频淲e need to treat rural and agriculture areas with creative thinking in adding housing, secondary suites, and agri-tourism. Families in the Okanagan are struggling. Youth are struggling to find jobs that have meaning and value and are compensated appropriately.91裸聊视频�
Fixing the Budget
91裸聊视频淭here is no doubt the province is in a significant deficit position,91裸聊视频� Kraft noted. We should be frustrated with how our budget and money are being allocated. I91裸聊视频檇 like to be taxed slightly less and not given rebates and be prescribed as to how to spend my own money.91裸聊视频�
He said increasing the PST by one per cent might be one solution to help reduce the deficit.
91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 just throwing it out there, but it91裸聊视频檚 time to get creative.91裸聊视频�
Warwick Sears said the current budget deficit was entered into deliberately, soberly and what is best for B.C. in mind.
91裸聊视频淚f we have to have a larger budget deficit for time while we get through this global inflationary cycle where everyone is stretched91裸聊视频e need to support our people so that when the economy starts to go up we will have things in place and people will be able to thrive.91裸聊视频�
She added the expectation is at least two more years of budget deficits.
Crime/Drug Decriminalization
91裸聊视频淲hat I91裸聊视频檝e seen in communities like Rutland where I grew up is91裸聊视频pplications of all types of centres and services throughout the area. What I91裸聊视频檇 like to see is a guided model to more centralized services91裸聊视频o ensure that communities are feeling heard with the issues that they91裸聊视频檙e facing with the placement of some of these centres.91裸聊视频�
Warwick Sears disagreed with centralizing services.
91裸聊视频淥ur riding is so far-flung. We can91裸聊视频檛 have homeless people with no cars trying to access mental health services in one centralized location. I do think it91裸聊视频檚 important to choose where those locations are and make sure they are not interfering with the community.91裸聊视频�
Transportation/Second Lake Crossing
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 an irksome issue,91裸聊视频� Warwick Sears said. 91裸聊视频淭here are options within our existing transportation footprint to improve intersections and flow of traffic. One of the proposals I91裸聊视频檝e heard is widening the existing bridge91裸聊视频erhaps with a bus-only lane.91裸聊视频�
Kraft said there is no doubt work needs to be done on the transportation corridor in the Okanagan, but throwing a bridge at it is not a logical approach.
91裸聊视频淚t took the better part of 30 years to build the last bridge and I don91裸聊视频檛 see it being accomplished in eight,91裸聊视频� he said, referencing a Conservative promise to build a second crossing in that time span.
91裸聊视频淭here are desperate needs elsewhere,91裸聊视频� he added, pointing to needed improvements on Westside Road.
Water Management
91裸聊视频淕et plans in place ahead of time,91裸聊视频� Warwick Sears said. 91裸聊视频淲e want to have all the different water suppliers having robust drought plans and that they know what to do if their reservoirs are not as full as they should be.91裸聊视频�
Kraft agreed with a proactive approach but said the region is 91裸聊视频榖ehind the eight-ball91裸聊视频� on work that could be done on reservoirs.
91裸聊视频淲e have two high-elevation reservoir systems that could be increased in retention, storage and application. We also need to consider the forestry industry and their practices around water tributaries, protecting the ecology from top to bottom.91裸聊视频�
The Kelowna Chamber is hosting candidates from Kelown-Centre on Oct. 10 at the Coast Capri.
