The Green Party candidate was the first to draw a reaction from the crowd that gathered at the Ridge Meadows Seniors Activity Centre Tuesday evening for the first all-candidates debate on the environment.
About 140 people packed the main hall at the centre for the debate, part of 100 non-partisan debates on the environment that are being held across Canada before the election.
Missing at the debate was Conservative candidate Marc Dalton, who declined the invitation.
#GreenParty candidate ArianeJaschke says Greens will not cut down old growth forest and increase funding to Parks Canada @MapleRidgeNews #MapleRidge
— Colleen Flanagan (@ColleenFlanagan) October 2, 2019
Ariane Jaschke, the Green Party candidate, said her desire to serve comes from a genuine love of humanity and the need to see responsible and ethical environmental stewardship in Canada.
“We will ban fracking, it’s a major source of greenhouse gases,” she said to applause and cheers from people in the audience, as she answered a question about climate change and each party’s plan for making sure Canada meets its international environmental obligations.
#NDP candidate John Mogk says his party will reform Environmental Protection Act, also ban single use plastics @MapleRidgeNews #MapleRidge
— Colleen Flanagan (@ColleenFlanagan) October 2, 2019
“We do not have to sacrifice a strong economy for a healthy environment. We need to get to net zero emissions by 2050,” she said.
NDP candidate John Mogk pointed out that the only party leader not to participate in the global Climate Strike was Conservative Party leader Andrew Scheer.
“Their refusal to attend this debate here tonight speaks volumes,” he said.
“They are climate change naysayers,” said Mogk, adding climate change is the most important issue for the generation.
Independent candidate Steve Ranta says we need to plan housing development where walking possible, create jobs near housing @MapleRidgeNews #MapleRidge
— Colleen Flanagan (@ColleenFlanagan) October 2, 2019
Independent candidate Steve Ranta said he is not seeing any leadership right now to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from governments in Canada, including B.C.
“The first key to reducing greenhouse gas emissions is to stop trusting any of the political parties to be on our side,” he said.
“Their records in government show they are quite willing to betray us and our future,” said Ranta.
Liberal candidate Dan Ruimy said if Canada’s goals are not achievable, then they are not going to be successful.
#Liberal candidate Dan Ruimy noted his party banned microbeads in toiletries on topic of problem of plastics @MapleRidgeNews #MapleRidge
— Colleen Flanagan (@ColleenFlanagan) October 2, 2019
“Climate change didn’t occur overnight and it’s not one thing. Climate change has been decade after decade after decade of damage through poor property management, through floods, fires, development, over-developed sensitive areas. These things you can’t fix overnight,” he said.
“You can stop a pipeline. But that’s not going to fix the problem,” added Ruimy.
#PeoplesParty candidate Bryton Cherrier says Hammond Mill closure troublesome, need to get rid of softwood lumber tariffs @MapleRidgeNews #MapleRidge
— Colleen Flanagan (@ColleenFlanagan) October 2, 2019
Peoples Party of Canada candidate Bryton Cherrier was around 15 minutes late for the debate and missed the first question and the chance to introduce himself.
Cherrier did say that he is not backed by big money or corporations.
Addressing a question about jobs and business opportunities for Canadians as the country transitions to a green economy, he brought up the recent Hammond Mill closure.
He said the softwood lumber tariffs that are still in place by U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, have to go.
“So there can be free markets between the two countries,” he said. “So this would create prosperous jobs into the forestry sector. I feel that it would be our first step,” added Cherrier.
