Debate in CSL draws sparks but lights no fire

About 200 people filled the hall at Beth Zion Congregation Thursday night for the Mount Royal riding candidates debate.  The candidates participating in the debate were: Irwin Cotler, Liberal Party of Canada; Jeff Itcush, New Democratic Party of Canada; Brian Sarwer-Foner, Green Party of Canada; and Saulie Zajdel, Conservative Party of Canada.

A portion of the debate was devoted to written questions from audience members. The debate was moderated by Anthony Housefather, Mayor of Côte Saint-Luc, and Beryl Wajsman, editor of The Suburban newspaper.

For a heated campaign that has garnered much interest, the political opponents were well-mannered, respectful and courteous.  Oh, so Canadian!

Many party faithful clapped feverishly after their favorite candidate commented but most in attendance had open ears to the information that was offered by all four.

The Green candidate focused, as expected, on all things green.  “The environment is married to the economy,” Sarwer-Foner said again and again.  He expressed great concern about nuclear risk from the Gentilly 2 plant up the St. Lawrence River, advocated for a renewal of the economy in order to develop sustainable energy initiatives that are environmentally friendly and called for higher taxation to industry that creates pollution, such as the Alberta tar sands.

Sarwer-Foner repeated that the “Green Economy” is not being talked about by the other parties.  He particularly stressed that democratic principles should teach us that the Green Party ought to have seats in Parliament based upon proportional representation.  I agree fully on this point.  Does it really make any sense that the Bloc Québécois (they declined to attend the debate) who only run in one province takes 50 odd seats in the House of Commons when the Greens got similar total numbers of votes in the last election but get no seats whatsoever?  Something isn’t right here.

The NDP’s Jeff Itcush said that health care is the primary concern.  His party wants to hire 1200 doctors and 6000 nurses across Canada. “Enough about the “C” word, ’coalition’,” he said.  “We should use a different “C” word for ’cooperation’.  He obviously took a page out of Jack Layton’s speaking notes.

Incumbant Liberal MP Irwin Cotler spoke eloquently about his “action agenda,” listing his many pieces of legislation he and his party stick-handled through the House.  Your MP, after all, is a “Public servant and public advocate,” Cotler said.

Tory candidate Saulie Zajdel, fighting laryngitis began with an assessment that the current conservative government is ”Doing a fine job. No need for change.”   Zajdel went on to say that the F35 fighter jets that the conservatives are planning to purchase were introduced by the liberals under PM Paul Martin. While he is technically correct, I take issue with the conservatives on this issue, not for the plan to purchase but with the notion of not going through a bidding process to solicit the lowest possible price.  This system is imposed upon municipal government for good reason.  The feds ought to do the same thing.

Zajdel stated with pride that he did a great job for 23 years on City Council and can do similar for Mount Royal riding.

The candidates were then asked about their position on Israel, which has tuned out to be such a hot button in this riding, with many voters proclaiming they’ll support Harper for his unprecedented remarks in support of the Jewish State.

Zajdel said on Israel that the Tories are on the right side and the other parties are not at the same level.

Cotler, heavy on the offence on this issue, said Israel is a just cause not a partisan cause and that we should be pleased we have all party unanimity in support of Israel.  Surely he wasn’t talking about the NDP whose deputy leader dumped all over Israel leaving Layton to go into major damage control.

“I stand shoulder to shoulder with PM Harper in support of Israel,” Cotler said, as though he had to defend his own lifelong commitment to the Jewish homeland?  Cotler took another shot at Zajdel that while Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff worked and lived in Israel (I didn’t know this either), “We’re waiting for Harper to make his first official visit there.”

Next the candidates were asked what they would specifically do for Mount Royal in particular and were asked to give two concrete examples.  As a City Councillor my ears perked right up.

Unfortunately, none of them really gave specific examples.  Itcush said he’d fund programs to fight discrimination among the local visible minorities.

Cotler said he worked to obtain a federal grant for Cote Saint-Luc towards the $18 million Aquatic and Community Centre now under construction.  This lead to a jab by Zajdel who said “You didn’t do anything to secure these funds!  It was Mayor Housefather who went to Ottawa.”  

Cotler also spoke about immigration policy and issues of national importance and finally added that he would work to get Cavendish opened up.  Zajdel shot back, “You didn’t do anything on this for 12 years!  Why now?”  Cotler replied, “I spoke about this in public forums many times.  Why didn’t you ever attend?”

The Green’s Sarwer-Foner said he would meet with local opinion leaders to determine how to make the area greener, create more parks that are pesticide free and close Gentilly 2.  I guess he didn’t know that CSL was already a leader in banning pesticide well ahead of provincial legislation and that we have lots of parks in CSL but what we need is federal legislation and funding to secure Meadowbrook as Montreal’s first National Urban Park.

With written questions from the audience, the candidates were asked how they would deal with the Bloc’s demand to extend Bill 101 language restrictions to federal institutions in Quebec.

Itcush, like the others, said he was against.  I didn’t hear Jack say that in the leaders debate!  Zajdel said he was against further intrusion by Bill 101 and would do all in his power to protect minority language rights.  Somehow I didn’t feel any comfort in any of their sympathetic double-speak on boosting Anglo spirits here in Quebec.

Wrapping up Sarwer-Foner said that he believes in the Hebrew notion of ’Tikun Olam’ or healing the world. “We have a responsibility to repair the world,” he said.  “We must transform society into natural bounds, invest in renewable energy and tax polluting industries.”  Global issues for all parties to consider.

Zajdel ended off with a plea to support Stephen Harper, as endorsed in this week’s Suburban.

There was no TKO in this debate.  Cotler is a brilliant professor and spoke with a high degree of intelligence and clarity.  Zajdel came off as a man of the people who would extend his councillor experience to the federal level.  He repeated several times that he has great respect for Cotler but this is really a race between Harper and Ignatieff.  This was a smart strategic move considering Cotler’s legendary status and Ignatieff’s inability to connect. 

The choice in Mount Royal comes down to Cotler and Zajdel with many (traditional liberal voters) still undecided. On that score, Mayor Housefather closed the event by reminding everyone to go out to vote on Monday.