Sparks Fly at Cape Breton-Canso Candidates' Debate

PORT HAWKESBURY - Raised voices, frequent interruptions and heated exchanges punctuated a lively 75-minute candidates' debate for the federal riding of Cape Breton-Canso on September 10 at the Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre. 

Facing each other in a debate format for the second time in three nights, Liberal incumbent Mike Kelloway, Conservative candidate Fiona MacLeod and New Democrat nominee Jana Reddick found common ground on a number of issues but frequently clashed on such topics as national child care, indigenous fishing rights in Nova Scotia, and the need to have the federal election in the first place. 

Kelloway, who defended the election call as a means of resulting the "toxic" environment in Parliament presented by the opposition parties in general and the Conservatives in particular, chastised MacLeod and her party for trying to attract Canadian voters to "the fear bus" and accused MacLeod and Reddick of fostering cynicism during the campaign.

MacLeod, whose civil service work in Ottawa has included experience in the office of Innovation, Science and Industry Minister Navdeep Bains and exposure to the inner workings of the Liberals under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, frequently interrupted Kelloway demanding answers on such issues as high-speed internet in rural areas and federal funding for health care.

Late in the debate, Reddick accused Kelloway of "patting himself on the back" in a social-media video describing a federal grant program for seniors, to which the Liberal incumbent frequently insisted, "You're better than that, Jana. "  

Brad Grandy, the People's Party of Canada candidate for Cape Breton-Canso, did not participate in the debate and has not taken part in any similar gatherings of the candidates throughout this election campaign. 

The candidates' debate was co-hosted by Telile Community Television in cooperation with the Strait Area Chamber of Commerce and 101.5 The Hawk FM Radio.