Candidates in Battlefords-Lloydminster had a variety of reactions to what was an at times raucous all-candidates forum hosted by the Battlefords Chamber of Commerce.
Incumbent MP Gerry Ritz acknowledged the passion shown at the debate but noted “I bring a lot of passion to this job, too. That’s one of the reasons I’m running again,” he said in speaking to reporters.
“I’ve still got the fire in my belly. There’s still things I want to get done in Ottawa.”
It is a busy week this week for the federal agriculture minister. Ritz was due to appear in Ottawa Wednesday to debate the other parties’ agriculture critics at the Canadian Federation of Agriculture debate. “Then I’ll do some work around the TPP talks and so on,” said Ritz.
After that, he will be back in the riding campaigning.
Ritz plans to take part in more all-candidates forums planned for Unity and Lloydminster, and he said a luncheon is scheduled for the Battlefords as well.
Ritz also indicated his election night plans are to be in North Battleford at the Tropical Inn.
Liberal Larry Ingram’s campaign has started to pick up. He held aa grand opening for his main campaign office in Turtleford this past weekend, which is also where he plans to be on election night. He is also getting feedback from voters.
“I’m finding people are sending me questions, which is nice,” said Ingram.
“A few people are sending me ‘are you going to support the CBC’ and I’m like ‘I think we’re the only party that’s saying we support the CBC.’”
As well, “people are phoning me and wanting to know when they are going to get signs from us and when we’re going to be out and about in their area, so I think we’re doing good.”
As for his own performance at the forum, Ingram thought he did a good job getting his message out.
“I’ve gotten over a lot of the nervousness,” said Ingram. “I was standing up there talking and was really in tune with the group sitting here.”
NDP candidate Glenn Tait had a more turbulent time at the forum. He lost his temper and even hurled a personal insult at Ritz over the demise of the Canadian Wheat Board, remarks he later apologized for at the debate.
“There was a lot of passion, and almost exclusively on my part,” admitted Tait.
While still apologetic, Tait nevertheless defended his staunch stance in defence of the Wheat Board.
“Gerry Ritz has taken $7 billion out of the Western Canadian agricultural economy, and I am angry about that,” said Tait.
“If I’m not allowed to be angry at $7 billion dollars, when is it OK to get mad?”
Tait’s entry at the forum came at the very last minute when Sandra Arias withdrew last week as the NDP candidate.
“I was surprised that our candidate did pull out,” said Tait, who noted that surprise has now worn off.
Tait said an office is going to open up on 98th Street in North Battleford within a few days and expects to be there on election night.
He also plans to have signs put up, but won’t be using any left over from his 2011 campaign because the old ones all had the name “Jack Layton” on them. Tait had to order a batch of new signs.
Tait does not expect to spend much time in the office. Instead, he told reporters he will be dividing his time between being out campaigning and also harvesting.
“Unfortunately I’ve got a million dollars worth of crop on the ground that I’ve got to get out,” said Tait.
Doug Anguish said he was happy with his performance at the forum after years away from politics. “Tonight is an important part of democracy,” said Anguish.
The night was notable for Anguish because on a few occasions he had to remind the moderators he was the independent candidate, in response to some questions posed that asked for the “party’s” position on the issues.
“I’m the only candidate running in Battlefords-Lloydminster to be running as an independent candidate,” said Anguish.
“Most of the candidates this evening that represented political parties read from prepared texts from their political leaders. I read from what I believe the constituents in the Battlefords-Lloydminster want, and what they want in a person to represent them.”
