Nickel Belt candidates debate child care, pharmacare and government spending

On the list of questions typed into the Zoom debate hosted by the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce for the Nickel Belt candidates was why we're having an election right now at all. 

"I appreciate the anxiety that people have through COVID," answered Marc Serré, the Liberal incumbent.

But he thinks it's a great time for voters to decide if they like the direction the government is taking on the pandemic.

"And now we have all the parties here, discussing ideas, discussing platforms, debating them, which is wonderful."

During Wednesday night's debate, which included attacks on the Liberal government from the right for "reckless" spending, and from the left on unkept campaign promises.

New Democrat Andréane Chénier said the Liberals have been pledging to bring in universal child care for decades. 

"Why should we believe that this would be the year that the Liberal government would in fact do it?" she asked. 

"This is not a promise. We have actual signed agreements. It's there," said Serré, adding child care is no longer just a "feminist" issue, but something backed by business leaders. 

"I want to thank Mr. Serré for taking the time to mansplain what child care looks like," Chénier shot back. 

The two rivals also clashed over a national pharmacare program, something else that's been promised by the Liberal government.

"The difference between a Liberal government and an NDP government is that we will actually do what we say we are going to do," Chénier said. 

"Unlike the NDP that think they can just snap their fingers and put pharmacare in place, we need to work with the provinces," said Serré.

Conservative candidate Charles Humphrey said the focus for the next government should be on the financial crisis Canada faces post-pandemic. 

"We are learning as a nation at this time that money is not wealth," he said.

"Empty promises and broad reckless dreams are not going to get us back on track."

Green Party hopeful Craig Gravelle admitted he is a one-issue candidate and sees a guaranteed basic income as a tonic for many of Canada's woes. 

"We need to stimulate the economy. Basic income is how we get there." 

Not in the debate but on the ballot in Nickel Belt is David Hobbs from the People's Party of Canada.

Since the riding was created in the 1950s, Nickel Belt has always flipped back and forth between the NDP and Liberals, and voters will decide whether it's time for another switch on Sept 20.