Individuals from federal fringe parties at the all-candidates forum articulated strong arguments and had some of the night’s funniest and most stark lines.
Jesse Shroeder is an economics student at Vancouver Island University and is the Pirate Party candidate.
The Pirates started in 2010 and have two EU members of parliament in Sweden and Germany.
The Pirate platform of opening up government and revealing all information to the public was reminiscent of Julian Assange, the embattled Wikileaks founder.
Schroeder provided strong insight into economic policy as a result of his education.
He capped off the night’s best line when candidates were asked about their vision of a majority government under Stephen Harper.
“I think I need to change my pants,” Schroeder said.
Marxist-Leninist candidate Barbara Biley ran for the same riding in the last federal election.
Marxist-Leninist presents an alternative to “cartel parties,” and democratic renewal is needed in the country, she said.
A Comox Valley resident, Biley spoke vehemently against the Raven Coal project, which is a raping and selling off of resources, she said.
The softwood lumber agreement “…benefited the monopolies,” she said, adding that there’s no reason to be exporting raw logs.
Articulate and hard spoken, Biley invited the comment “She’d be elected if she ran for the Greens or NDP,” from one audience member.
Christian Heritage Party candidate Frank Wagner didn’t avail himself with any question asked.
The party’s platform centred around the subject of abortion.
“We have more dead children than live ones,” he said.
“If we think Stalin and Hitler were bloody we’re just as guilty.”
Canada should also tighten up its immigration policy and “…be careful about who we let in,” said Wagner, using people with criminal records as an example of those who shouldn’t be allowed in the country.
reporter@albernivalleynews.com