First Fort McMurray-Cold Lake debate attended by only two candidates

September 28, 2015. The first all-candidates forum in the Fort McMurray-Cold Lake riding was notably missing more than half the field, including Conservative incumbent David Yurdiga. Nearly 70 high school students quizzed NDP candidate Melody Lepine and Liberal candidate Kyle Harrietha on issues ranging from post-secondary education, environmental and economic issues, to helping Syrian refugees and fighting terrorism. The topics of taxes and pipelines led to the future of Fort McMurray and the oilsands. Harrietha warned that, while times are tough right now, the economy will rebound. When that happens, Fort McMurray has to be prepared if previous infrastructure problems are to be avoided. Lepine said her party would promote diversifying the economy in fields such as manufacturing and green energy, while promoting “sustainable resource development” in places like the oilsands. There are four more debates scheduled in the riding. Harrietha and Lepine have promised to attend every debate in Fort McMurray, as well as Cold Lake and Lac La Biche. Other candidates are Scott Berry of the Libertarian Party, Brian Deheer of the Green Party, and Roelof Janssen of the Christian Heritage Party. During the 2014 by-election, Yurdiga was the only candidate that skipped every public debate.

Fort McMurray-Cold Lake candidates NDP Melody Lepine and Liberal Kyle Harrietha debate in front of high school students in Fort McMurray. (Photo: provided by
Liberal Party)