(MARSHALL JONES / iNFOnews.ca)

KELOWNA - The first federal election forum in Kelowna leading up to next month's election will focus on seniors' issues.

The forum, sponsored by the National Association of Federal Retirees and the Canadian Association of Retired Teachers, is slated for Saturday, Sept. 7, at the Mary Irwin Theatre in downtown Kelowna, according to a media release. It will be followed by a similar forum on Sept. 16 put on by the Canadian Federation of University Women although there are no details yet on what it’s focus will be.

Eleven of the 12 candidates in the two Central Okanagan ridings (which stretch down to Summerland and Princeton and include Merritt and Logan Lake) are expected to attend the forum this Saturday.

Confirmed candidates for the Kelowna-Lake Country riding are incumbent Liberal Stephen Fuhr, Conservative Tracy Gray, NDP Justin Kulik and Darrin Fiddler of the Marijuana Party. Expected but not confirmed is Salomon Reyek of the People’s Party. Green Party candidate Travis Ashley had a prior commitment and cannot attend.

For the Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola riding, incumbent Conservative Dan Albas, Liberal Mary Ann Murphy, the Green Party's Robert Mellailieu, the People's Party Allan Duncan and the Marijuana Party Brynn Jones are confirmed. Joan Philip of the NDP is expected but not confirmed.

Candidates have been given four advance questions. They are:

1. When might your party adopt a universal pharmacare plan and in that plan, how would you protect Canadians’ access to all medications from purchase by residents of other countries?
2. What measures will your party take to improve current and future universal retirement benefits; please also address how your party plans to protect employee pensions from companies that are insolvent?
3. What will your party do to improve access to affordable housing for at-risk seniors?
4. What’s your party’s position with regard to ensuring appropriate supports for the rapidly increasing population of seniors including supports for caregivers of at-risk seniors?

The forum is at the Mary Irwin Centre in the Rotary Centre for the Arts with doors opening at 6:15 p.m. for one-on-one meetings with candidates followed by the forum, moderated by CBC’s Chris Walker, from 7 until 10 p.m.

The University Women’s forum on Sept. 19 starts at 7 p.m. in the Kelowna Senior Citizen’s Society hall at 1353 Richter St., according to an email.

It’s also for candidates from both ridings. They will have questions presented in advance as well as taking written questions from the audience. There are no details yet on who will attend or what the advance questions will be.

Federal election day is Oct. 21.

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