Image Credit: Compilation/Jennifer Stahn

We don’t endorse any single candidate. Our comments on these answers are an assessment of whether the candidate gave a candid answer as we asked for (REAL) or relied on party platforms, leadership or attacks on rivals for their answers (PUPPET).

To understand this post, please read this first.

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OUR TAKE: Karley Scott has no problem quoting party platform and appears to be playing very safe in her responses. We marked her as a party puppet on four of seven questions. If you are thinking of voting Liberal, you could do worse than Scott as a local representative, but she's probably not going to help you make your decision.

1. The number one concern I hear from voters is:

We need to grow our economy and protect our environment at the same time. We are in a recession and the government has lost public trust on its ability to protect our environment.  The two are not mutually exclusive – they can be done together. The current government has done neither. We plan to deliver the economic growth and jobs Canadians need while ensuring that we leave our country even more beautiful, more sustainable, and more prosperous to our children and grandchildren.

OUR TAKE: This is a Liberal refrain. Are locals telling you this in such nebulous terms or are you telling them? PUPPET

2. As an MP, what could you do to ensure zebra/quagga mussels stay out of B.C. water systems?

We need to keep our waterways free of invasive species.  We will work with the provinces as well as our American partners – to prevent the spread of invasive species and undertake science-based initiatives to better understand and manage this issue.

OUR TAKE: It's more complicated than that, and a local MP can show plenty of leadership in raising awareness and supporting local initiatives. PUPPET

3. Do you personally believe in criminal penalties for recreational marijuana use?

I believe that marijuana should be legalized - not just decriminalized. Legalization is the best way to keep marijuana out of the hands of children, prevent the proceeds from supporting criminal activity, explore the positive health possibilities and reduce negative health impacts.

The Conservative abstinence position is not working for our children. The World Health Organization has reported that Canada has the highest teen usage of marijuana amongst the countries surveyed. The Conservative position also impairs our ability to properly investigate using marijuana as a medicine.

We need to pass smart laws that tax and strictly regulate marijuana. Once we do that we can better protect our kids while preventing millions of dollars from going to support criminal organizations and street gangs.

Decriminalization is not enough - it allows production and distribution to stay in the hands of criminal organizations, allows them to continue collecting the proceeds and does nothing to address Canadians' public safety concerns.

OUR TAKE: Strong take and seems like a personal view. REAL

4. Name one example of an issue you disagree with your party on. How would you reconcile that disagreement?

I am a relationship builder and have always expressed disagreement with respect and a desire to find a compromise. I would approach any disagreement in my role as Member of Parliament the same way.

OUR TAKE: In no way does that answer the simple question. PUPPET

5. Do you believe the federal government is doing enough to deal with mental health in our communities, in our courts and in our prisons? What can it do better?

No – the federal government is not doing enough. Canada is facing a growing mental health crisis. The federal government has consistently refused to invest the resources necessary to strengthen the mental health system in Canada.
A Liberal government will prioritize working with the provinces, territories, municipalities and Indigenous peoples to prevent mental illness, expand access to care and recovery services and support, and combat the stigma of mental illness.
In the decade Mr. Harper has been Prime Minister, the federal government has been completely absent from health and health care. The Conservatives have actually cut funding for mental health and suicide prevention programming.
The government’s record on areas in their jurisdiction—including Indigenous people, the military, RCMP, veterans and correctional facilities—have some of the worse mental health outcomes in the country.

OUR TAKE: While the answer mirrors Liberal platforms, it's in plain language and mostly looks forward, not backward. REAL

6. Do you believe the federal government is doing enough to help veterans? What can it do better?

No – I do not believe the federal government is doing enough to help veterans.
Our servicemen and women, who have put their lives on the line for their country, stand for the very best of what it means to be Canadian. We have a social covenant with all veterans and their families – a sacred obligation we must meet with both respect and gratitude. For a decade, Stephen Harper has dishonoured us all by failing to uphold this sacred obligation.
A Liberal government will live up to our obligation to Canada’s veterans and their families. We will ensure that no veteran has to fight the government for the support and compensation they have earned. A Liberal government will:
· re-establish lifelong pensions for our injured veterans, and increase the value of the disability award;
· invest $25 million to expand access to the Permanent Impairment Allowance;
· invest $40 million to increase the Earnings Loss Benefit to 90 percent of pre-release salary;
· invest $80 million per year to create a new Veterans Education Benefit that provides full support for the cost of up to four years of college, university, or technical education;
· invest $100 million per year to expand support for families of veterans;
· increase the veteran survivor’s pension amount from 50 percent to 70 percent;
· double funding to the Last Post Fund to ensure that veterans receive a dignified burial;
· re-open the nine Veterans Affairs service offices closed by the Harper Conservatives;
· fully implement all of the Auditor General’s recommendations on enhancing mental health service delivery to veterans;
· hire 400 new service delivery staff, including new case managers, at Veterans Affairs; and budget $20 million to create two new centres of excellence in veterans’ care.
It's time for real change. After a decade of neglect and disrespect from Stephen Harper, we are committed to delivering to veterans the future they deserve.

OUR TAKE: If you simply quote Liberal platforms, why ask a local candidate? PUPPET

7. Do you believe a minority government can be effective?

Our priority is for Canadians to have a better government – not just a different government – and Liberals will work with other parties in Parliament to ensure that happens.

However, The Liberal Party has always been open in minority situations to working with other members of the House to pass legislation that serves Canadians. Canada has had minority governments before. Parliamentarians elected by Canadians to represent their communities are there to serve their communities and have always been able to ensure that Parliament functions.

OUR TAKE: Not what we expected. Good answer. REAL

BONUS Will you declare your support for increasing openness and transparency in government and commit to interviews by the news media once elected? Yes or No.

Yes.

News from © iNFOnews, 2015