SIMCOE NORTH: MSS STUDENTS GRILL CANDIDATES

CHP Candidate Kooger Assailed By Critics After Debate

From pot to politics, Site 41 to the death penalty, Midland
Secondary School students took turns asking the five Simcoe North
federal candidates issue-based questions at the all-candidates debate
hosted by the school on Wednesday.

But some of the most interesting debate took place after the meeting,
in a circle of teens surrounding Christian Heritage Party candidate
Adrian Kooger.

Many of the questions fired at him were about his stance on
homosexuality. Part of CHP's platform is to defend the traditional
definition of marriage and a portion of Kooger's opening statement
emphasized that unnatural sex acts contribute to increased health
care spending and he ended telling those who are concerned about
same-sex marriage to vote for him. Click Here!

While he received a few 'yeah's' during the debate, most of the
students in the group surrounding him afterwards said they were
offended by his comments.

"I have a fair amount of friends who are homosexuals," said Matt
Marchildon, 19. "I was definitely offended by his comments and I was
sitting beside my friend who is homosexual and he was very offended
by his comments."

Another, unidentified student excused herself after talking to
Kooger, saying, "I'm getting angry. So I'll go, now. Thanks for talking to me."

During the debate, candidates were each given three minutes for an
opening statement before students took turns at a central microphone
to ask a question. The students chose two candidates to answer their
question directly and the other candidates got a chance for rebuttal.
Candidates also gave closing remarks.

The clear majority of questions - seven out of 10 - were directed at
Conservative candidate Bruce Stanton. They ranged from what programs
would be cut if the Conservatives decreased the GST to five per cent,
to what his response is to Stephen Harper calling Canada a 'Northern
welfare state'.

"To pick a sentence from years ago is not helping," Stanton said.
"This is about the future. All I can (talk) about (is) what is in
front of us now."

He said there was no need to cut programs with the reduction in the GST.

"We had $15 billion in revenue in 1993; it now is $31 billion. There
is more than enough room in the tax cuts and programs that we are proposing."

Both Liberal candidate Karen Graham and NDP candidate Jen Hill noted
that a two-per-cent decrease in the GST would only benefit
higher-income earners.

Hill said the NDP's plan to cut the GST entirely from essential items
will offer more savings to everyone.

Graham pointed out that under the Conservative plan, one would have
to spend $40,000 a year on taxable items to get the same benefit as
the Liberal tax cuts.

More than 750 students filled the auditorium and by far, the most
enthusiasm was garnered by responses to the second question directed
at Stanton.

"Why are you guys against marijuana legalization?"

Citing healthy communities and increases in crime related to drug use
as reasons why Conservatives do not support the legalization or
decriminalization of marijuana, Stanton stood only with Kooger against it.

"There's no reason to give (a person) your age a permanent record
just because he has a couple of ounces of pot in his pockets," said
Green Party candidate, Sandy Agnew, noting that his party would
regulate and tax pot, like alcohol is now.

Graham agreed, although also noted that drug-related crime is an
important issue. "It doesn't make sense to give kids a record because
they smoke a joint occasionally ... We won't legalize it but we will
decriminalize it."

Graham didn't escape a question about the sponsorship scandal and
responded that she was just as angry as any other Canadian when she
learned about it.

Some students saw Graham as too defensive when she criticized her
opponents in her opening comments, instead of focusing on her priorities.

"All the Liberal girl did is take shots at other candidates," said
Matt Carter, a Grade 9 student. "It makes me think she's insecure and
has to pick on the smaller candidates."

Student Amber Knuff, 18, also thought Graham acted too defensive. She
says when she votes it will be between the NDP and Green Party.

A clear favourite by many students, who cheered frequently after he
spoke, Green Party candidate Sandy Agnew used humour to relate to the youth.

"I'm not the best speaker on stage; probably not the smartest; and
definitely not the best looking but I know what sustainability is,"
he said, before emphasizing the need to make changes to create
sustainable communities.

In response to a question about Site 41, he held up a document
containing his vision for Simcoe North. It emphasizes eliminating
waste by capturing 100 per cent of all materials that can be diverted
from the waste stream and finding other options other than the
landfill for the rest.

NDP candidate Jen Hill agreed that the issue is about eliminating the
need for another landfill site.

"We need to take steps towards the reduction of waste," she said.
"There is no need for a dump to be there ... I'm going to make it
federal business."

Students at MSS will participate in the Student Vote Program on Jan. 19.