The Regent Theatre in Picton was the site of the final debate for candidates vying to be the next Member of Parliament in the Bay of Quinte riding (April 21, 2025).
Well over 250 people were on hand to hear from the candidates on a number of issues, including tariffs, inter-provincial trade, the Canada/US relationship, arts/culture, municipal infrastructure, health care, and more.
Participants included the NDP’s Kate Crothers, Erica Charlton of the Green Party, the Liberal’s Chris Malette, and Conservative Ryan Williams.
Crothers says some residents are asking her to step aside, to avoid splitting the left.
Audio Player“This is a dangerous precedent to set. If Tommy Douglas had stepped down, you would be paying thousands of dollars for every midnight trip to the Picton emerg, when your kid has a fever and you don’t know what to do. Everyone told Jack Layton to step down too. Instead he doubled down on building the party’s national presence, so we could bring programs like dental care and affordable child care.”
Chris Malette highlighted the importance of arts and culture, particularly in The County.
Audio Player“The Mark Carney government will spend $20 billion over four years, to unite Canada by increased funding to agencies. That means creators right here in Prince Edward County.”
Charlton says she was on the same stage four years ago and many of the same issues were discussed.
Audio Player“Housing and affordable living and health care. These are conversations that we had four years ago, these are conversations that we had eight years ago. So why are we still having the same conversations?
Ryan Williams says supporting local manufacturing and Canadian goods is critical.
Audio Player“We’re going to provide innovate grants to boost productivity and efficiency and we’re going to offer expert development funding for small scale manufacturing looking to go global. In other words, we’re going to make sure we make our businesses relentlessly competitive, with lower taxes, so they can compete not only in Canada, but on the world stage.”
Crothers discussed her community involvement, which includes supporting Palestinian refugees.
Audio Player“When members of our community came to me, horrified as their families in Gaza were subjected to genocide and Ryan Williams’s office ignored their calls, asking why Canada continued to send weapons to Israel. I took to the streets to organize and support the Palestinian people and to amplify the voices of my community.”
Malette says a pillar for a Mark Carney government would be supporting a public broadcaster.
Audio Player“An initial $150-million boost to develop a new strategic vision and way forward, while at the same time ensuring the business model of the CBC is brought to heel, so we don’t see wasteful spending, and more careful accounting.”
Charlton closed her remarks focusing on getting the job done and not sowing more hate and division.
Audio Player“This is an affordability crisis, but it’s also a humanity crisis. We need to work together and we need our politicians to work for us, to make sure that they get the job done, and we’re bringing successes in four years.
Williams says the ballot question is, is it time for change?
Audio Player“It means we get Pinecrest (Housing development, Bloomfield) done and finished and get people in that door right away. Change means we get Highway 49 funded. Change means for our local businesses we drop the taxes. We make sure we get rid of the carbon tax as a whole.”
The Prince Edward Federation of Agriculture and the PEC Chamber of Commerce co-hosted the event.
You can listen to the entire debate below.
Audio Player
