Sparks flew at a student engagement event for federal candidates in St. John’s East yesterday.
It wasn’t technically a debate but there were a few knocks scored on all sides.
Liberal Nick Whalen, NDP Jack Harris and the Green Party’s David Peters spoke about their parties (and each other’s parties) for the grade nines of Macdonald Drive Junior High.
Conservative Joedy Wall was unable to attend due to a family obligation.
Harris says he’s well familiar with the school as he gives out environmental leadership awards there each year, before holding the Liberals to task about doing little to deal with climate change. pic.twitter.com/jKzug1IY7m
— 𝔸𝕟𝕕𝕣𝕖𝕨 ℍ𝕒𝕨𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕣𝕟 (@hawthornandrewj) October 3, 2019
The students were left scratching their heads after Jack Harris, already seventeen minutes into a ten minute speech, was interrupted by Whalen, resulting in a minor back and forth between the two.
Peters described it as the kind of combative politics-as-usual his party was trying to change.
Students turn to grill the candidates.
First question for Greens: You’re promising free tuition for everyone. How could you possibly afford that to implement it?
— 𝔸𝕟𝕕𝕣𝕖𝕨 ℍ𝕒𝕨𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕣𝕟 (@hawthornandrewj) October 3, 2019
Greens: We’ve got a ten billion dollar plan, and the country already spends more than that servicing student debt.
NDP: We’re focusing more on lowering that debt and making education more affordable.
Libs: Maybe university isn’t for everyone. Most of student debt is in rent.
— 𝔸𝕟𝕕𝕣𝕖𝕨 ℍ𝕒𝕨𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕣𝕟 (@hawthornandrewj) October 3, 2019
The students were having none of it, questioning the affordability of the Greens’ free tuition plan and asking if any of the parties represented intended to follow climate terms set by the Paris Accord.
Only Peters said yes, while Whalen argued the real choice was between the Liberals or a lack of climate policy from Andrew Scheer.
