Election candidates take the stage at Neepawa debate
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- Published on Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Photo by Kate Jackman-Atkinson. Candidates (from left) Ray Pich茅 (Liberal), Kate Storey (Green), Inky Mark (Independent) and Laverne Lewycky (NDP) took part in a debate hosted by the Neepawa United Church鈥檚 Mission and Service Committee.
By Kate Jackman-Atkinson
Neepawa Banner/Neepawa Press
On Sept 30, candidates for the federal riding of Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa took on a range of topics as part of a debate hosted by the Neepawa United Church鈥檚 Mission and Service Committee. Candidates Ray Pich茅 (Liberal), Kate Storey (Green), Inky Mark (Independent) and Laverne Lewycky (New Democratic Party) took part in a debate, which focused primarily on child poverty, but touched a number of issues.
Rowena Powell, one the debate organizers, explained that in April, they decided to focus on the issue of child poverty. This also happened to be the issue that the United Church Women of Canada have taken on as their project.
In addition to the debate, the group, which works to improve the lives of people who live on the fringes of our society as well as raising awareness of issues that require systemic change, has also organized some informational forums on the topic.
The committee intends to follow up with the elected representative in a year鈥檚 time to see if progress has been made. !
Conservative candidate and incumbent MP Robert Sopuck didn鈥檛 attend the debate. He explained, 鈥淚 was otherwise booked. I did a great tour of the Inglis, Roblin, Boggy Creek, San Clara area and I was booked. I owed those people my time.鈥�
About child poverty, Sopuck said that his party has implemented a number initiatives aimed at helping families, including the universal child care benefit and income splitting. He added, 鈥淭he best cure for poverty is economic development. We saw the economy grew at two per cent this year... Once we have a thriving economy in an area, the child poverty issue is on it鈥檚 way to being delt with.鈥�
For a full report of the debate, see the Oct. 9, 2015 edition of the Neepawa Banner.
