medpot
10-03-2008, 03:43 PM
Surrey Now (http://www.canada.com/surreynow/news/story.html?id=12bd84f2-c183-4da5-a86f-211ecd645a95)
Students put candidates on hot seat
Ted Colley, Surrey Now
Published: Friday, October 03, 2008
Kids these days. What are you gonna do?
Nina Grewal could be forgiven for thinking along those lines after Thursday's all-candidates meeting at Surrey's Sullivan Heights Secondary where three Fleetwood-Port Kells hopefuls fielded questions from students.
There were the usual questions that crop up in that kind of thing: carbon taxes, gas prices and immigration policy, to name a few. But some of the questions were obviously intended to put Grewal, the Conservative incumbent, on the spot.
About 45 minutes into the debate, Grade 12 student Kaitlin Erb dropped the biggest bomb.
"What," she asked all the candidates, "are your party's views on abortion?"
It was Grewal's turn to answer first, but the question appeared to catch her off guard. She'd responded to the more prosaic queries that came before with monotone readings from printed notes, but Erb's question left her momentarily speechless.
After a few seconds of confused silence, Grewal said despite the number of anti-abortion MPs in the House, there is little desire to push that agenda in the House.
"Quite frankly, most MPs fear a public backlash," she said.
"I do not believe any laws changing abortions will be passed in the current political climate."
New Democrat Nao Fernando said the Conservatives were about to introduce legislation recognizing the fetus as a person and were only prevented from doing so when Parliament was dissolved when the election was called.
"That would lead to an absolute prohibition on abortion," Fernando said.
"I am a Roman Catholic and I believe in choice."
Green candidate Brian Newbold said he strongly supports a woman's right to choice and would not support any attempt to outlaw abortion in Canada.
Next came gay marriage. Where, a student asked, does each of you stand on that issue?
Newbold supports it, as does Fernando. Grewal said marriage should be defined as the union of one man and one woman.
Asked if a Green government would legalize marijuana, Newbold said yes.
"Having marijuana illegal doesn't stop anyone from using it. We think it should be regulated like alcohol or tobacco," he said, drawing cheers from his young audience.
Liberal candidate Brenda Locke was absent from the debate and said later she hadn't been given the time or date.
"I didn't know it was today. The school called me a while ago to say they were planning this. I told them to call my campaign when they had the details firmed up because I don't do my own scheduling."
© Surrey Now 2008
Students put candidates on hot seat
Ted Colley, Surrey Now
Published: Friday, October 03, 2008
Kids these days. What are you gonna do?
Nina Grewal could be forgiven for thinking along those lines after Thursday's all-candidates meeting at Surrey's Sullivan Heights Secondary where three Fleetwood-Port Kells hopefuls fielded questions from students.
There were the usual questions that crop up in that kind of thing: carbon taxes, gas prices and immigration policy, to name a few. But some of the questions were obviously intended to put Grewal, the Conservative incumbent, on the spot.
About 45 minutes into the debate, Grade 12 student Kaitlin Erb dropped the biggest bomb.
"What," she asked all the candidates, "are your party's views on abortion?"
It was Grewal's turn to answer first, but the question appeared to catch her off guard. She'd responded to the more prosaic queries that came before with monotone readings from printed notes, but Erb's question left her momentarily speechless.
After a few seconds of confused silence, Grewal said despite the number of anti-abortion MPs in the House, there is little desire to push that agenda in the House.
"Quite frankly, most MPs fear a public backlash," she said.
"I do not believe any laws changing abortions will be passed in the current political climate."
New Democrat Nao Fernando said the Conservatives were about to introduce legislation recognizing the fetus as a person and were only prevented from doing so when Parliament was dissolved when the election was called.
"That would lead to an absolute prohibition on abortion," Fernando said.
"I am a Roman Catholic and I believe in choice."
Green candidate Brian Newbold said he strongly supports a woman's right to choice and would not support any attempt to outlaw abortion in Canada.
Next came gay marriage. Where, a student asked, does each of you stand on that issue?
Newbold supports it, as does Fernando. Grewal said marriage should be defined as the union of one man and one woman.
Asked if a Green government would legalize marijuana, Newbold said yes.
"Having marijuana illegal doesn't stop anyone from using it. We think it should be regulated like alcohol or tobacco," he said, drawing cheers from his young audience.
Liberal candidate Brenda Locke was absent from the debate and said later she hadn't been given the time or date.
"I didn't know it was today. The school called me a while ago to say they were planning this. I told them to call my campaign when they had the details firmed up because I don't do my own scheduling."
© Surrey Now 2008