Two candidates vying for the Columbia-Kootenay-Southern Rockies federal NDP nomination debated the issues during a forum in Cranbrook at the Royal Alexandra Hall on Saturday, Feb. 8.
Kallee Lins and Keith Page, both based in the West Kootenay, fielded questions on themes of affordability and housing, re-engaging with labour unions, and organizing the progressive base amid a global rise in conservatism and right-leaning ideology.
Lins currently serves as Executive Director of the West Kootenay Regional Arts Council based out of Nelson. Raised in Castlegar, she left for Ontario to pursue higher education and worked in various management roles with non-profits and community organizations before returning to the West Kootenay three years ago.
Page was first elected to Nelson city council in 2018, and has a background in information technology. He grew up on a cattle farm near Three Hills, AB, and later moved to Calgary, before journeying into the Kootenays in 2004.
Both emphasized the importance of reconnecting with the labour movement and unions.
"There are so many workers in this country who are disenfranchised from the rights and privileges that come with being a part of organized labour," said Lins. "And I think we need to look at specifically how to nurture that and bring more people into the unions so that it doesn't feel like — I hate to say it — a niche political audience.
"They're core supporters of this party, they were at one point and we can't leave them feeling neglected but I think we also need to build that base and ensure that more people are a part of organized labour."
Page highlighted feedback he heard while serving as an auxiliary with Nelson Fire Rescue and at the Nelson city council table.
"I have talked to young men in the unions, they come to me, they have these conversations and there is a disenfranchisement, concern, a lack of connection to the work that the unions are doing, they don't feel connected to that fight that's going on, they don't feel that the leadership within those unions really have their back."
"...We need to address why people are having that experience, why people inside the union are having that experience, why people outside of the union are having that experience and what's going on inside of how those organizations are run themselves."
Climate change adaptation, the federal role in building up housing stock and supporting the expansion of the trades workforce were among a few other topics of discussion throughout the debate.
On a question about the the metaphorical pie ever shrinking while the wealthy get wealthier, Lins advocated for progressive tax reform and a windfall tax, while Page bluntly endorsed "tax the rich" while supporting communities in building new economic models and systems.
Following the debate, the two candidates milled with the crowd for further conversations.
The Columbia-Kootenay-Southern Rockies NDP membership will vote for a riding candidate on Feb. 27. Both have been touring the region, meeting with constituents recently in Fernie (Feb. 7) and Kimberley (Feb. 8).
