Heather Wright/The Independent

Expropriation of farm land, expanding the supply management system and solutions to the rising costs of food production were hot topics during the Lambton Federation of Agriculture’s All Candidates night.

Seven of the nine people running for the seat representing the Sarnia-Lambton riding answered mostly agricultural questions Feb. 19 at the Brigden Fairgrounds.

Only Ontario PC Candidate, Incumbent Bob Bailey, and the Green Party, Pamela Reid, decided not to attend.

Bailey, who said he was focusing on meeting with voters one-on-one this time, took some heat from the candidates throughout the event for not attending.

“If the incumbent were here, I would ask, why has he failed to use his position to effectively help the people of Sarnia-Lambton,” said Candace Young, of the NDP. “Our MPP doesn’t care enough to show up or to speak up for us at Queens Park.”

Tom Stoukas of the Populist Party was disappointed to hear Bailey felt other forms of campaigning were better this time around. “I was really upset when I read that, because we’re in very crazy times right now. As a leader, he should be here even if he doesn’t think it suits his purposes.”

The talk quickly turned to green energy, with Liberal Rachel Willsie acknowledging the federal Liberals have imposed a carbon tax which has driven up the cost of farming. “One of the hardest challenges for me as a Liberal is to admit that there have been things that have not gone in favor of everybody… being attached to Justin Trudeau policies and being a Liberal member has been very, very challenging.”

Libertarian Jacques Boudreau would support green energy projects as long as the government doesn’t impose them on farmers. “If you as a farmer wants to install whatever it is that suits their fancy without subsidy, they are welcome to it.”

Independent Candidate Nathan Colquhoun wants to encourage green energy projects that don’t just benefit corporations. “Solar, wind or other renewable projects help farm operations stay sustainable, lower costs and provide a stable income.”

The candidates also tackled the issue of rising production costs.

For most, it led to a discussion about the Carbon Tax. New Blue Candidate Keith Benn wants it scrapped as did Mark Lamore of the Ontario Party, Stoukas, and Boudreau.

“We bring the prices down by eliminating all of the government intervention and taxes, etc, that are driving the prices up,” said Benn.

Willsie also distanced herself from the carbon tax, telling the crowd Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie has voted to remove the tax if elected. She adds the current system is unfair to farmers, who don’t receive tax credits individuals do. “I think the powerhouse of the agricultural industry really has not been recognized for what it represents,” she said.

Young seemed to be the only candidate to entertain some form of carbon pricing saying she favours a “Cap and Trade” system which would allow farmers to reduce their carbon costs.

“(Farmers’) carbon footprint is almost neutral, that is the goal. And so why are they being penalized for that?”

Some of the issues the LFA wanted to tackle, the candidates were familiar with, others, not so much. None of the candidates are from the agriculture industry although Willsie grew up in a rural area and has family members who farmed.

Questions about the Risk Management Program, which protects farmers against swings in international pricing, by trade issues, weather or new regulations, needed deeper explanation. Only Young said the NDP had a plan to remove the cap farmers can claim under the program. Recently, the Conservative government promised to increase funding to the program by $100 million in the next three years.

Many of the candidates supported having a discussion about increasing the number of sectors involved in supply management. Boudreau was not one of them. He said supply management “smacks of central planning” and he doesn’t support it.

Benn also said he was a “free market guy” but acknowledge some farmers have built their business with the supply management model and he’d be reluctant to “pull the rug out from under them.”

The candidates also touched on rural health care. The NDP and Liberals have both promised billions to hire more family doctors. Willsie says the Liberals also want to make sure there are residency spots for young Canadians who get their medical education outside of the province.

Lamore added one of the solutions to the health care professional problem would be to hire back unvaccinated doctors and nurses.

“One of the quickest and most efficient ways to increase access to health care, and especially in rural communities to smaller communities, is to allow medical practitioners to open privately owned and privately operated clinics,” said Benn of the New Blue Party.

Watch The Independent’s website for election results Thursday.