Only three candidates appeared at the first federal election forum at the Kiwanis Pavilion in Wakamow Valley on Wednesday night. 

Moose Jaw – Lake Centre – Lanigan candidates Talon Regent (NDP) and Katelyn Zimmer (Liberal) attended the forum, along with Regina-Qu'Appelle Green Party candidate Naomi Hunter on behalf of Isaiah Hunter. Absent were Fraser Tolmie (Conservative), Chey Craik (People’s Party of Canada), and Craig Townsend (Maverick). 

The event was put on by the Moose Jaw Multicultural Council, Prairie Skies Integration Network, Wakamow Aboriginal Community Association, Families for Change and Moose Jaw Pride. Many of the questions revolved around immigration and equality. 

Moose Jaw Families for Change asked the candidates how they will address the social isolation of people living with disabilities. 

Moose Jaw - Lake Centre - Lanigan Liberal candidate Katelyn Zimmer.Zimmer said that technology now allows us to stay connected more than ever before. 

“There was one positive thing that was to come out of this terrible pandemic that we've all lived through for the last 18-plus months, it's how adaptable people can be and how we can really use technology to connect us to our friends, families, coworkers and other members of the community,” she said. 

Hunter argued that, while technology is great, accessibility needs to be taken a step further. 

“We need to look beyond solutions where people are trying to Skype or video out to the world. We need real access. We need to make sure that our public buildings are accessible. We need to make sure that public transportation is accessible.” 

Regent said there needs to be more funding for accessibility for those living with disabilities. He pointed to a missed opportunity by the Liberal Party government. 

“We know from our past already the difference between these two leaders. Justin Trudeau, during the pandemic, he looked to give 10s of billions of dollars to big banks and leave everybody else behind,” Regent said. 

The Moose Jaw Multicultural Council asked the candidates their thoughts on the importance of immigration to the community and how their platform will serve the needs of newcomers. 

Hunter said the Green Party would divert funds from the military and put it towards helping refugees that are fleeing war-torn countries. 

“Think what $17 billion would do to help with the refugees that are caused by these unnecessary wars that Canada sometimes is a part of, that our uranium and nuclear goes to be part of the weapons,” Hunter said. 

Regent said Canada should make immigrants feel welcome as newcomers to the country. 

“We need to make sure that when people are discriminated against abroad when people are facing prejudice, they are welcomed to Canada as well,” Regent said.  

“If we welcome people to our country with open arms and we provide them with the support that they need to succeed, then they will succeed. They'll be grateful to this country that has been so welcoming and they will elevate our country as a whole.” 

Zimmer laid out her party’s platform when it came to helping immigrants. 

Moose Jaw - Lake Centre - Lanigan NDP candidate Talon Regent.“Things that are included in the Liberals platform to help immigration is number one, they're going to speed up the process. They're going to make it easier for individuals and their family members to enter Canada. Number two, there's a housing initiative. First-time homebuyers, credits, and incentives so they're going to make it easier for new members to Canada to find a place to live. Number three, they're going to need to get a job, and there needs to be equality across the board when it comes to employment and discrimination. And number four, they're going to need to be healthy members of society, and the Liberals have included increased access to primary health care providers, including mental health services, in their platform.” 

Prairie Skies Integration Network posed the question to the candidates about racism and how the parties plan to tackle issues that people of colour face daily. 

Zimmer said, for her, it is about hearing from those people and learning about the issues. 

“It's not to pretend I know what it's like to walk in somebody else's shoes, and so by listening, I would gain an understanding of what the issues are from your perspective,” she said. 

Regent took the opportunity to take a shot at the Conservative Party’s track record when it comes to human rights. 

“We are in an election where the Conservatives may very well win this riding, and if they do, then they will seek to roll back human rights,” Regent explained. 

Hunter took it all a step further and took examples from overseas on how Canada could stamp our racism. 

“In Finland, they decided to just end homelessness. They passed good legislation and actually ended homelessness. We can pass legislation and make it illegal to treat others as we would not want to be treated,” she said. 

The Wakamow Aboriginal Community Association asked the candidates questions in regards to Indigenous rights. One of those questions was about decolonization and what it means to each candidate. 

Regina-Qu'Appelle candidate Naomi Hunter represented the Green Party.Hunter said it all starts with truth and reconciliation and the 94 calls to action need to be implemented. 

“Right before the wit dropped, thousands of First Nations children's bodies were found at residential school sites. The pain that those families have gone through for generations, I believed those families when they said that they knew the bodies were there,” Hunter said. 

Regent added that the 94 calls to action need to be implemented, but it can’t stop there when it comes to helping First Nation communities. 

“In addition to bringing forward and implementing the 94 calls to action, we would also be ensuring that every single community, Indigenous and First Nations communities, have clean drinking water. We will be ensuring that Indigenous communities have the right of self-determination.” 

Zimmer said it is about education and the understanding that the hurt caused to First Nation people will not be healed overnight. 

“Decolonization means to me respecting a culture that has been around for a whole lot longer than ours, honouring the people, recognizing the atrocities that they faced, providing the supports that they need, as well as the generations to come because this is not going to be fixed in one or two or three generations,” she said. 

Moose Jaw Pride asked the candidates about the bill to ban conversion therapy that was tabled because of the federal election. The organization wanted to know how each candidate would vote if the bill comes up again. 

All three candidates said they would vote in favour of the bill. 

Regent blamed the Liberals for calling an election, which in turn stalled the passing of the bill. 

“The fact that we are now in an election, just before it was able to get passed, is Justin Trudeau's fault. He was the one that called this election,” he said. 

Liberal candidate Zimmer in turn blamed the Conservatives, saying it could have been passed before the election it is wasn't for the Opposition. 

“I will also add that the Liberals are dealing with a minority government and the Conservatives did their fair share of stalling, dragging their heels and watering down the language of the bill,” she argued. 

Hunter likened the practice to murder and felt those practicing conversion therapy should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. 

“The process of conversion therapy, which of course, is absolutely tied to mental health and suicide issues. Let's not for one minute, pretend that this is not killing people,” she said. 

The federal election takes place on Sept. 20, with advanced polls opening this weekend.