Hamilton Centre candidates fire barbs in heated debate

NDP leader Andrea Horvath sat down for a televised interview with candidates running for the Hamilton Centre riding. The debate included opponents from the Liberal, Progressive Conservative, Green, and Communist parties.

Horwath is the incumbent and campaigning to become premier when Ontario goes to the polls on June 12.

“We know that there is a lot of poverty in Hamilton and we want to help out,” said Horwath.

After answering questions posed by the public candidates were allowed to ask questions of each other. All took aim at Horwath.

“Why does your plan not have mention of poverty or pensions?” asked Liberal candidate Donna Tiqui-Shebib.

“You’re mistaken. Our plan does have $294 million in homeless initiatives,” replied Horwath.

The candidates later turned to discussing low voter turnout in their riding.

“The numbers I’ve been told is in the low 40s of turn out. And I think that’s a responsibility of all of us as potential MPPs,” said PC candidate John Vail.

When Horwath was asked how Queen’s Park would be different if she became premier, she said she would begin by respecting the tax dollar. When asked if she regrets triggering the election, she said the people of Ontario wanted a choice and were fed up with the Liberals and their scandals.