Federal election 2015: Meet your Kitchener South-Hespeler candidates
Amanda Grant | CBC News | Posted: September 28, 2015 5:55 PM | Last Updated: October 1, 2015
Conservative, Liberal, NDP and Green candidates participate in live panel
In the run-up to the election on Oct. 19, CBC Kitchener-Waterloo is hosting the candidates in all of Waterloo Region's five ridings for panel discussions on issues affecting our community.
On Monday we heard from the Conservative, NDP, Liberal and Green candidates in Kitchener South-Hespeler in a panel discussion on CBC Radio's The Morning Edition with host Craig Norris.
Marian Gagné - Conservative
"Balancing the budget is important to people. Just as we would balance our household budget, so we should balance our national budget," said Conservative candidate Marian Gagné.
Gagné said if she were elected she would work to keep creating jobs and maintaining a budget surplus in Ottawa.
"People want a steady, affordable approach to government," she said.
Gagné said she's hearing from residents that Conservative initiatives like income splitting and extending tax-free savings account limits are the reasons they plan to vote blue on Oct. 19.
Lorne Bruce - NDP
"It's a comprehensive, prudent, cost-effective plan," said NDP candidate Lorne Bruce about the NDP's platform, on The Morning Edition. "It's not pie in the sky kind of stuff, its the kind of things that make a real difference in people's lives."
Bruce cited plans to invest in small business, seniors and child care as ways the NDP are committing to helping Canadians day-to-day.
When it comes to infrastructure investment, Bruce said he wants to make sure the federal government helps provide the support for upgrading transit systems in Waterloo Region.
"One of the highest priorities is two-way GO [service], all day," said Bruce.
Marwan Tabbara - Liberal
"We're been losing a lot of manufacturing jobs in the area," said Tabbara. "We need to keep the talent pool here and we're investing in jobs."
Tabbara said the Liberals are plugged into the needs of families and plan to focus on those demands from job creation to child benefits.
"I've studied politics for many years," said Tabbara. "I've gathered all that experience and knowledge and I know that our Liberal plan right now is a really good plan."
"We're going to grow this economy, we're going to get out of this recession and we're going to help Canadians move forward."
David Weber - Green
"There's an awful lot of people that are frustrated," said David Weber. "All they know is the NDP have moved to the right, the Liberals are the same as the Conservatives, nobody does what they say they're going to do."
That's where the Green Party is different, Weber said.
Weber said tuition costs, international affairs and healthcare concerns are all key issues to him.
After 28 years in policing, Weber said he knows how to gather information, weigh the facts and make decisions prudently, which makes him a good pick for the role of member of parliament in Kitchener South-Hespeler.