Local candidates sit down to discuss issues in Ottawa

The local federal election candidates discussed a variety of issues Thursday during a meeting with the Ottawa Citizen editorial board.

PHOTO CREDIT - OurHometown.ca

Cornwall - Apr. 8, 2011 - The local election race made a pit stop in Ottawa on Thursday as the candidates sat down for a mini-debate of sorts.

Incumbent Guy Lauzon (Conservative) and challengers Bernadette Clement (Liberal), Mario Leclerc (NDP) and Wyatt Walsh (Green) found themselves sitting shoulder to shoulder as they discussed a variety of issues during a meeting with members of the Ottawa Citizen editorial team.

The hour-long gathering seemed more like an informal meeting than a debate, as the candidates politely took turns answering questions from the newspaper.

Following some introductory remarks, the candidates discussed a wide range of issues including the situation at the local border crossing, support for the agriculture sector and for middle-class families, attracting more women to politics, government spending on advertising and the environment.

The highly-anticipated Cornwall and Area Chamber of Commerce All Candidates Debate will be held on April 21 at the Cornwall Civic Complex. The night before that, the candidates will take part in an all-candidates meeting at the South Mountain Agricultural Hall in North Dundas.

The meeting at the Ottawa Citizen was recorded by the newspaper, and it can be seen in its entirety below: