Liberal, Green and NDP candidates promise investment in riding of Sudbury East-Manitoulin-Nickel Belt

Three federal candidates took to the stage for a debate in the newly-configured riding of Sudbury East-Manitoulin Nickel-Belt to answer questions focusing on housing, affordability and health care while addressing concerns about the impact of tariffs from the United States.

NDP candidate Andréane Chénier, Green candidate Himal Hossain, and incumbent Liberal candidate Marc Serré spoke to a crowd of about 20 people at the Centennial Arena in Hanmer, while the rest of the riding, which now includes Manitoulin Island, will be able to watch on Eastlink on Thursday, April 17.

Conservative candidate Jim Belanger did not take part.

The Sudbury Chamber of Commerce moderated the debate which included some questions from the public.

The candidates were asked about what investments they would bring to the riding.

Serré referred to his record of the last 10 years, saying the economic development agency FedNor has played a role in the region, and the federal government has put money into critical mineral development as well as roads and housing.

He added that money from tariffs needs to be directed into bringing back jobs in the mining of critical minerals and the federal government needs to work to keep jobs in the region by refining minerals closer to home.

"We need to make sure that we don't ship them out like what Glencore and Vale is doing right now," he said. "We need to look at a refinery, and the city of Sudbury with the mayor has been looking at the refinery here, sulfate, and we, the federal government, has invested in a cobalt refinery, just an hour and a half away from here."

Investments in health and critical minerals cited as priorities 

The NDP's Chénier also championed development in the region, emphasizing it needs to be done sustainably and with consultation with rural communities and First Nations.

It must also be done using Canadian products and businesses, she said.

"It's important to remember that building housing, if it's unaffordable, doesn't help our communities," said Chénier. "We want to make sure that we're using local businesses. We're going to use local products. We want to be using local workforces to build hospitals, highways, hospitals, roads and on top of that to develop our critical minerals and our natural resources in an environmentally sustainable way."

As for Green candidate, Hossain, he said housing and health care were at crisis levels and most in need of investment.

"Housing is one of the largest crises, not just within our riding, but ridings across northern Ontario," said Hossain. "So it's about putting in a plan that works, with the idea of building 5,000 co-operative homes by 2030 and taxing the vacant corporate lots that are already there and  innovating and creating more homes in that way."

He also repeatedly brought up a proposal to bring 10 mobile health care clinics to the riding and to triple the number of mental health care workers.

These initiatives, he said, would be funded by closing corporate tax loopholes to fund those innovative social programs.

Hossain acknowledged that the Greens would not form a government, but they could work with whichever party will hold power to make a difference.

Other questions included whether the candidates supported the elimination of interprovincial trade barriers, which the Green and Liberal candidate did, but which the NDP's Chenier questioned whether it would be effective.

Tax reductions on small business needed, candidates agree

The candidates were also asked whether they were in favour of modernizing the tax system.

Liberal Serré said his party attempted it in 2017 but it was more difficult than at first glance because it needs all-party approval.

The NDP's Chénier said the Elon Musks of the world needed to be taxed and that her party would take the GST off essentials such as diapers, formula and home heating.

The Green's Hossain promised his party, in co-operation with others, would fund a guaranteed income.

In conclusion, all three candidates once again hit the notes of federal investment in infrastructure, including homes, housing and highways.

"Canada is not broken," said Serré, appealing to voters to return him to office. "Northern Ontario is not forgotten."