Liberal incumbent calls out Conservative candidate for skipping Sault Ste. Marie-Algoma debate

Liberal candidate Terry Sheehan called out the absence of his Conservative adversary, Hugh Stevenson, during an all-candidates debate for the riding of Sault Ste. Marie-Algoma on April 15.

"The silence is deafening," said Sheehan, who is the incumbent for the previous riding of Sault Ste. Marie, which has been expanded to include surrounding communities in the Algoma district.

"I've participated in a lot of these debates, but I've never seen a candidate not show up like this, ever."

NDP candidate Laura Mayer, Green Party candidate Robyn Kiki Eshkibok and Christian Heritage Party of Canada candidate James Collins all participated in the debate, organized by the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce.

Many questions were focused on the economy and how each party would respond to tariff threats from the United States.

Each candidate spoke in turn, without any back-and-forth discussions, or interruptions, on the issues at hand.

Sheehan called this election unprecedented because of tariffs imposed by U.S. president Donald Trump, which have hit Sault Ste. Marie's steel industry especially hard.

"We can no longer be reliant on the United States," he said.

Sheehan said a Liberal government would break down inter-provincial trade barriers, which would help make Sault Ste. Marie an important transportation hub for resources.

Mayer, the NDP candidate, said her party would create a rapid response task force to help support Canadians affected by tariffs and would ensure any revenues from Canadian counter-tariffs would go directly to workers.

"They need to be about the worker to ensure we're not only doing bailouts that benefit corporations," she said.

Eshkibok said the Green Party would create a strategic reserve of natural resources like softwood lumber to "protect Canadian interests, stabilize prices and revitalize domestic industries."

Collins said the Christian Heritage Party of Canada would focus on removing government red tape, paying down the deficit and cutting back investments in private industry.

Overlooked issues

Debate moderator Robert Burns asked the candidates what they believed was the most overlooked issue in the riding.

Mayer said that in her view it was community safety.

"Economic instability and the lack of hopefulness has led to an increase in crime, has led to an increase in opioid epidemics," she said.

Mayer said creating more economic opportunities in the region would help address those issues.

Eshkibok said she was running in the campaign because all levels of government failed her when she experienced homelessness in Sault Ste. Marie.

"At the end of the day, everyone deserves a safe, warm place to rest their head. Nobody should go without," she said.