Brock Township residents had an opportunity to find out where the federal candidates stood on the major issues at an all-candidates debate last Wednesday night.

More than 50 people settled into the auditorium of the Beaverton-Thorah Community Centre for the event, which was sponsored by the Tenants' Association of Gillespie Gardens and the Brock Citizen.

Four of the candidates in the Oct. 14 provincial election - incumbent Tory MP Barry Devolin, Marlene White of the Liberals, Stephen Yardy of the NDP, and Michael Bell of the Green Party -- debated issues ranging from government spending to local job creation, child care to agriculture and health care to the economy.

While Mr. Devolin was squarely in the crosshairs of the other candidates, the majority of critical comments were directed towards his party's leader.

Ms. White referred to Mr. Harper's agenda as both "fend for yourself" and "visionless." She praised her party's leader, Stéphane Dion, as a "visionary" who has the "courage of his convictions."

Mr. Devolin replied to that comment minutes later, saying that Canadians -- regardless of their political stripe -- know where Prime Minister Harper stands on the issues facing this country.
"Leadership has been more important in this election than any other," he said.

Mr. Devolin appeared to score points with the audience when he took a shot at the Liberals' proposed carbon tax.

He agrees that Canada must shift to more environmentally-friendly energy sources, but took issue with levying a tax on those who use fossil fuels or those who produce them.

"We need to cut our reliance on fossil fuels. We believe this is something that will take time, so it's important to start now," he said.

Ms. White responded by saying that the majority of Canadians would benefit from the carbon tax through a decrease in income tax.

"We can tax polluters and our economy will do just fine," she said.

Ms. White, Mr. Yardy and Mr. Bell also took issue with the timing of the election.

"One of the first laws he (Prime Minister Harper) put into place was a fixed election date. We all know what happened with that," Ms. White said.

"This election wasn't called for you and me... He did it for himself."

Mr. Bell agreed, saying that Prime Minister Harper and the Conservatives called the Oct. 14 election simply because it "was a good time to attack.

"We had no time to organize... We were caught by surprise. We had to scramble to get our ducks in a row," he said.

Mr. Devolin retorted that the Conservatives -- despite having 60 fewer seats than the opposition -- stayed in power for more than two-and-a-half years.

"We have the longest serving minority government in history," he said.

He also blamed the opposition parties for being "unco-operative" and forcing the government's hand.

Taking the microphone immediately after Mr. Devolin, Mr. Yardy admitted that the NDP could have been a little more co-operative with the Harper government.

"But that doesn't give them the right to break their own law," he said, adding that the government should have been toppled by a non-confidence vote.

"That's the democratic way."

The candidates were also at odds over government spending, with Mr. Devolin criticizing the other parties for their glut of election promises.

He cited the Globe and Mail's running tally of election promises, which ranks the Conservatives far below that of the other national parties. According to the newspaper's report, the Conservatives have promised $6.5 billion in new spending over the next five years. The Green Party are in front with $22.5 billion annually over four years, followed by the Liberals with $54.5 over four years and the NDP with $51.6 billion over four years.

Mr. Devolin said that another Conservative government would be best suited to deal with the implications from the financial crisis in the U.S.

"This is a time of caution, not billion-dollar promises," he said.

Ms. White responded by targeting the Liberal and Conservative track records.

"We delivered eight consecutive balanced budgets. We are the party to keep this country's financial house in order," she said.

"When was the last time a Conservative government left office without a deficit? 1920. Robert Borden."

When asked about the most important issue in the riding of Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock, all four of the candidates said the economy and job creation, but all relied more on their party's platform than putting forth a "homegrown" solution.

Mr. Yardy and Mr. Bell also made a pitches for support of their parties.

Mr. Yardy said a vote for the NDP would promote "a vision of hope" for Canada.

"We can build a Canada where we look after each other. As compassionate at home as we are competitive abroad," he said in his closing statement.

Mr. Bell said the country needs at least some Greens in Parliament.

"We are a viable alternative to what Ottawa is spoonfeeding us," he said.