Legend

• CON Conservative
• LIB Liberal
• NDP New Democratic Party
• COM Communist
• GRN Green
• IND Independent
• CHP Christian Heritage Party
• PPC People's Party

• How big of a priority is it to balance the federal budget?

  Essential

  High priority

  Neutral

  Low priority

  Not important

  LIB

  Ken Werbiski: We always need to be cognizant of our debt no matter who you are. With that said, we also need to balance the fact our infrastructure deficit is estimated to be between $350B and $400B. We need to invest in our infrastructure in order to keep Canada moving.

  CHP

  Jerome Dondo: We need to get the budgets balanced because once interest rates start to climb the costs will increase and the services will have to be cut. The CHP could eliminate the deficit in in the first year by using the Bank of Canada for interest free loans, which would save $25 billion in debt servicing costs. The latest Federal Budget released in early 2019 showed a deficit of $19 billion. Saving the $25 billion in debts costs, there would be a $6 billion surplus.

  GRN

  Beverley Eert: Greens do not believe we should be creating debt of any kind for our children. Not economic. Not environmental.
  • Did not respond:
  • PPC Aaron Archer
  • CON Candice Bergen
  • NDP Cindy Friesen

• I would rather have more money in my pocket through tax cuts than have the federal government increase spending on public services.

  Strongly agree

  Somewhat agree

  Neutral

  Somewhat disagree

  Strongly disagree

  LIB

  Ken Werbiski: A government cuts taxes to give you a little more money in your pocket, then cut services because they cannot afford to provide services. The public now has to pay out of pocket for these services, and while it may not affect you at the moment, others may be greatly affected. This can increase poverty, homelessness, mental health and addictions issues. These can all have a negative affect on the rest of society. If we invest in people we will save money in the long run.

  CHP

  Jerome Dondo: There are many ways that the government can save money. One stop using taxpayers money for supporting parties (some candidates and parties get 50% of their election expenses refunded), eliminate the tax credits for political donations, and eliminate funding on unnecessary programs with no return.

  GRN

  Beverley Eert: The burden of taxation is not fairly distributed. A Green government will undertake root-and-branch tax reform
  • Did not respond:
  • PPC Aaron Archer
  • CON Candice Bergen
  • NDP Cindy Friesen

• In 2018, about 320,000 immigrants came to Canada. Is that the right number?

  Way too many

  Too many

  About right

  Too few

  Way too few

  LIB

  Ken Werbiski: Canada is a land of immigrants. Immigrants not only help boost our economy, but help us maintain our population. We need to continue to be vigilant in our screening processes to ensure safety, but immigration has always been part of Canada.

  CHP

  Jerome Dondo: No Comment

  GRN

  Beverley Eert: Canada must review its immigration policy, especially with the demographic imbalance escalating to the point where younger generations will be required to bear the burden of supporting our aging population. We need to attract immigrants and establish a system that is fair.
  • Did not respond:
  • PPC Aaron Archer
  • CON Candice Bergen
  • NDP Cindy Friesen

• In 2018, about 28,000 refugees came to Canada. Is that the right number?

  Way too many

  Too many

  About right

  Too few

  Way too few

  LIB

  Ken Werbiski: I am thankful that I have never had to make the excruciating decision to leave my home in order to survive. Continuing to provide foreign aid is the best method to maintain stability abroad so that others don't have to make that choice.

  CHP

  Jerome Dondo: No Comment

  GRN

  Beverley Eert: Too many people, many of them children, are held in immigration detention. An unacceptable number of them die there. Almost 500 people are in immigration detention at any given time and in 2018 an estimated 7,300 migrants, 155 of them children, were detained. At least 17 people have died in immigration detention since 2000.
  • Did not respond:
  • PPC Aaron Archer
  • CON Candice Bergen
  • NDP Cindy Friesen

• How important is it for Canada to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions?

  Essential

  High priority

  Neutral

  Low priority

  Not important

  LIB

  Ken Werbiski: The science is clear, we need to address climate change. Carbon pricing is already in use in 40 countries and 20 cities around the world, and has shown to reduce carbon emissions.

  CHP

  Jerome Dondo: No Comment

  GRN

  Beverley Eert: We have an opportunity to be a world leader in addressing climate change and in developing sustainable energy technology.
  • Did not respond:
  • PPC Aaron Archer
  • CON Candice Bergen
  • NDP Cindy Friesen

• Should Canada approve the construction of new fossil-fuel pipelines?

  Definitely

  A few

  Maybe

  No

  Get Canada off oil

  LIB

  Ken Werbiski: We need a plan to get from where we are today to a green future. Improvements need to be made in green technology in order for it to work in a country such as Canada. Equipment that works at +40C doesn't always work at -40C. With carbon pricing, a pipe line will generate millions of dollars that can then be invested in green technology. If we can make alternate energy sources work here, they will work anywhere in the world. Canada would then be at the cutting edge of green technology and prospering from the green economy while phasing out the need for fossil fuels.

  CHP

  Jerome Dondo: There is a need to move from a reliance on products that harm the environment and governments should invest in cleaner technology so that Canadians have more of a choice (i.e. it is by far cheaper to buy a gas powered vehicle than an electric one and if the price was the same, more people would choose electric). Until the time comes, we will still be relying on fossil fuels and we need to transport it in an efficient and safe manner. Transporting it by road or train is causing more damage to the environment. If there is a need for more pipelines, until there is a significant reduction in need for fossil fuel, then we should build.

  GRN

  Beverley Eert: It is laughable to think that building more fossil fuel infrastructure will in any way accelerate the transition to the Post-Carbon Era. It is time to move into the future, and the future is NOT fossil fuels.
  • Did not respond:
  • PPC Aaron Archer
  • CON Candice Bergen
  • NDP Cindy Friesen

• Handguns should be banned in Canada.

  Strongly agree

  Somewhat agree

  Neutral

  Somewhat disagree

  Strongly disagree

  LIB

  Ken Werbiski: I believe we already have strong laws when it comes to hand guns, and we need to maintain those laws. At the same time we need to address all crime and make people responsible for their actions. People who break the law need to spend time in jail, but we need to do more than warehouse them. There needs to be programs to address the reason for the crime. Gang involvement is often the result of poverty and homelessness with a gang providing the basics of food and shelter when none were provided before.

  CHP

  Jerome Dondo: It is already illegal for individuals to carry a handgun so banning them would keep law abiding citizens from owning them for sport and while doing nothing to keep it from the hands of criminals.

  GRN

  Beverley Eert: No Comment
  • Did not respond:
  • PPC Aaron Archer
  • CON Candice Bergen
  • NDP Cindy Friesen

• To what extent do you feel there is a need for reconciliation between Canada and Indigenous peoples?

  Great need

  Some need

  Neutral

  Low need

  No need

  LIB

  Ken Werbiski: There is absolutely a need for reconciliation. Terrible things have been done to Indigenous People in this country with far reaching effects and we need to make amends. This will only happen with consultation and cooperation with our Indigenous People, and not dictated by any governments.

  CHP

  Jerome Dondo: Canada needs to eliminate the Indian Act and return to the treaty agreements. This would be the first step to reconciliation.

  GRN

  Beverley Eert: Canada has a profound legal obligation to reconcile and provide restitution for the colonial relations – marked by violent expropriation, displacement, and forced assimilation – that have undermined the cultural, governance and economic foundations of the Indigenous Peoples of this land. The Green Party of Canada recognizes the ongoing leadership, resistance and resilience of Indigenous Peoples in the face of systemic oppression and inter-generational trauma. A Green government will support all Indigenous Peoples’ efforts to emerge from the positions of disadvantage in which Canada has placed them, including support for cultural revitalization and healing.
  • Did not respond:
  • PPC Aaron Archer
  • CON Candice Bergen
  • NDP Cindy Friesen

• Some of Canada’s big cities want the federal government channel funding directly to them for things like transit, rather than sending funding to the provinces to distribute to cities. Is that a good idea?

  Great idea

  Good idea

  Neutral

  Bad idea

  Terrible idea

  LIB

  Ken Werbiski: Cities and municipalities already receive direct federal funding through the gas tax rebate for their prioritized infrastructure needs. My only concern would then be there would be a loss of the ability, or a greater challenge, to accessing Provincial/Territorial funding as well.

  CHP

  Jerome Dondo: No Comment

  GRN

  Beverley Eert: A Green Government would answer the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ and Vancouver Mayor’s Council’s call for a permanent, dedicated federal public transit fund of $3.4 billion annually starting in 2028, once the existing transit funding program expires.
  • Did not respond:
  • PPC Aaron Archer
  • CON Candice Bergen
  • NDP Cindy Friesen

• The Canadian government should implement a pharmacare program to cover the cost of prescription drugs.

  Strongly agree

  Somewhat agree

  Neutral

  Somewhat disagree

  Strongly disagree

  LIB

  Ken Werbiski: We have all heard a version of this story. Someone goes to the doctor with a health issue and receives a prescription. The person takes the prescription to be filled and finds they cannot afford it. At this point, one of two things happens. One, they leave it behind as there is no way they can pay for it. Two, they find a way to pay for it, but take a half dose or less. As a nurse, I have seen this play out. Some time later the person is in the emergency department in crisis. An emergency room visit is hundreds if not thousands of dollars, depending on what is done. From there if the patient goes home, they will likely have a prescription similar to what they were given before. If they are admitted, it will cost at least hundreds of dollars a day. When they are discharged, they will likely have another prescription for something they cannot afford. Unfortunately, sometimes people suffer a serious enough health crisis, they need to be hospitalized long term, and even be admitted to long term care. Not only does this put a strain on our healthcare system, it also increases the financial burden of that family because there is one less person bringing in an income. All for the price of a prescription.

  CHP

  Jerome Dondo: No Comment

  GRN

  Beverley Eert: A Green government would expand the single-payer Medicare model to include Pharmacare for everyone as well as free dental care for low-income Canadians. It would also create a bulk drug purchasing agency and reduce drug patent protection periods.
  • Did not respond:
  • PPC Aaron Archer
  • CON Candice Bergen
  • NDP Cindy Friesen

Reset your answers