Wednesday night’s Thunder Bay-Rainy River debate, hosted by the Chronicle Journal, was a feisty affair that saw three parties repeatedly attacking the policies of the Conservatives – with a few shots thrown in at their other rivals.
On stage were Conservative Moe Comuzzi, the Green Party’s Christy Radbourne, the NDP’s John Rafferty and Liberal Don Rusnak.
Here’s a synopsis of some of their more notable quotes on the night:
"Real change, real altering change is never the work of large political parties." – Christy Radbourne, Green Party
“It's disappointing that more people in Thunder Bay and the region aren't more involved in the political process." – Don Rusnak, Liberals
"When the world is faced with uncertainty from international groups ... Stephen Harper has acted with decisiveness." – Moe Comuzzi, Conservatives
"We need to look at our low tax plan.” – Moe Comuzzi
"When you have wrong information, chances are it will put you on the wrong path.” – Christy Radbourne
"Democracy in this country in the past decade has taken the biggest hit." – John Rafferty, NDP
"What we need to do is have a real plan to reform the senate. ”– Don Rusnak
"I don't mind saying the last seven years as your MP has been very frustrating," – John Rafferty on lack of information from government.
"This government has done a systematic job of hiding information from citizens." – Christy Radbourne
"None of my counterparts have even mentioned it, how to create jobs for our kids." – Moe Comuzzi
"You don't create jobs by corporate tax cuts." – Christy Radbourne
"That's what tonight is all about, more job opportunities." – Moe Comuzzi
"We've done this five times and I think we all want to lower the small business tax from 11 to 9 per cent." – Don Rusnak
"We have pledged a billion dollars over 10 years for the Ring of Fire." – John Rafferty
"I don't think Mr. Rafferty has been following the polls and seen where his party is heading.” – Don Rusnak
"The province needs to do their part and get off their hands.” – Moe Comuzzi on Ring of Fire plan.
"We need to really commit to a revenue stream that's going to produce those billions." – Christy Radbourne
"If you want to get infrastructure built, you have to ensure large corporations pay their fair share." – John Rafferty
"It raises taxes and it kills jobs.” – Moe Comuzzi on deficit spending
"There is no federal leadership right now. Let's just leave it up to the provinces and see what they do." – Christy Radbourne
"He has added $118 billion to our debt." – John Rafferty on Stephen Harper
"They didn't run balanced budgets for the whole time they were in government, for the last 10 years." – Don Rusnak
"It's hard to go to a job if you can't afford child care." – Christy Radbourne
"I'm absolutely flabbergasted by the Liberal candidate up here ... I mean the Conservative candidate up here.” – Don Rusnak
"These jobs that Mr. Harper talks about, 80 per cent of them are precarious jobs." – John Rafferty
"One of the ways to make sure ... people have a way to improve is to raise the minimum wage." – John Rafferty
"The poverty in this country is crippling." – Christy Radbourne
"We know that many of those people who use that food bank don't fill their prescriptions." – John Rafferty
"The smoke-and-mirrors of the NDP is they want the people at Tim Hortons, at McDonald's to think they're getting $15-an-hour." – Don Rusnak
“It’s guaranteed money every month that helps our kids. And they're having more kids. Isn't that wonderful?” – Moe Comuzzi on the universal child-tax credit.
"We'll call BS when we see BS and (child-care benefit) was to buy votes." – Don Rusnak on child-tax credit
"It's not the golden child that everyone seems to think it is, or certainly that Moe Comuzzi thinks." – John Rafferty on child-tax credit
"Let's start addressing the big elephant in the room, which is climate change." – Christy Radbourne
"The Liberal plan is to bring back regulations and make sure corporations pay if they pollute." – Don Rusnak
"We were the first country to walk out of Kyoto, 2011 under Harper." – Christy Radbourne
"Ontario handles your health care. There's $20 billion that comes into our province. What are we getting locally?" – Moe Comuzzi
"It is time that everybody gets into the boat and starts paddling. We are going to be in a world of hurt real soon." – Christy Radbourne
"Ms. Comuzzi must be reading from her binder again.” – Don Rusnak, after Comuzzi said “we” ended coal-fired power in Ontario.
What we need right now is smart tax policy." – Don Rusnak
"It's not pie-in-the-sky, you're benefiting today.” – Moe Comuzzi on Conservative tax policy
"We don't need more tax regulations, we need to simplify it." – Christy Radbourne
"In 100 years, our prime minister was only prime minister to apologize for heinous crimes committed at residential schools." – Moe Comuzzi
"I do all right as a lawyer in Thunder Bay and I don't know if I can (put) $10,000 into a tax-free savings account." – Don Rusnak
"We know that income splitting for families only helps the top 16% of families in Canada. We think we can do better." – John Rafferty
"The senate does serve a purpose. If you eliminate the senate you're leaving everything up to the Prime Minister." – Moe Comuzzi
"The Liberals would rather talk about jobs and the economy, than get into a constitutional battle right now." – Don Rusnak
"Boom or bust economies are not sustainable. We can't wait for the next boom to drag us out of recession." – Christy Radbourne
"We got the senate question out of the way. Now, how are we going to create jobs in Thunder Bay-Rainy River." – Moe Comuzzi
"We are committed to improving First Nations education across this country." – Christy Radbourne
"Our country has been decimated in the international community by the Harper government." – Don Rusnak
"It used to be a badge of honour to wear the maple leaf when travelling the world. We can't do that anymore." – Don Rusnak
"You have two parties that will turn their back on military aid." – Moe Comuzzi
"We are a disgrace right now, when we talk about the Syrian refugee crisis." – Christy Radbourne
"The Green Party will pick up seats. It might not be this one in #TBRR but we will pick up six to 10 seats and be balance of power." – Christy Radbourne
"For the last decade we've failed to live up to our international commitments." – John Rafferty
"Our polling numbers show it's a battle between the NDP and Liberals ... "The NDP aren't going to do it." – Don Rusnak
"We have a sitting MP who has done nothing to create jobs.” – Moe Comuzzi
"I'm proud of Tom Mulcair being principled. If we lose a few points in the polls, so be it." – John Rafferty
"Big trade agreements that are not vetted first ... do not benefit us." – Christy Radbourne
"Under Mr. Harper 30,000 small farms have been abandoned over the last nine years." – John Rafferty
"Single women are the poorest segment of our seniors groups in Canada.” – John Rafferty
"The Ontario pension plan is destined for failure." – John Rafferty
If it looks like a registry, if it smells like a registry, it's a registry," – Moe Comuzzi
"The Conservatives have not won here in 80 years, they're not going to start on Oct. 19." – Christy Radbourne
"Vote Moe and I'll get you jobs." – Moe Comuzzi
