17.58
The candidates are setting up on the stage, as are the panel of questioners. At least, that's what I assume they are. For the NDP we have the incumbent Paul Dewar, with the Liberal challenger Penny Collenette, and the Green candidate whose name I don't know. Already she's talked about how green is her colour (she's wearing a huge green shawl), and was complaining that they had bottled water on the stage, ensuring she got tap water in her own mug.
18.02
Two-minute warning from the moderator, Marcus McCann, the associate publisher and managing editor of Capital Xtra.
18.04
Jen Hunter - that's the Green candidate. And we're starting. McCann lets us know that despite the absent Conservative candidate, he says we have the three candidates most likely to win. He introduces the panel as local activists, and says that the issues they want to address aren't in the party platforms. He lays out the rules, and says the randomly chosen order goes Penny, Paul, and Jen.
18.08
The panel is Nicholas Little from ACO, Jay Koornstra from Bruce House, Capital Xtra columnist Ariel Troster, and Michael W (sorry, I didn’t get his last name) from Carleton University’s GLBTQ Centre.
18.09
Collenette introduces herself, and talks about her dancing in the streets at Pride, and expresses her dismay at the Conservative absence. She talks about the Liberals commitment to equality, starting with the Charter before her time runs out.
18.12
Dewar spells out the gay, lesbian, trans communities, but omits the bisexual community--oops. He talks about health care mostly.
18.14
Hunter talks about how sad it is that in 2008, we're still talking about some basic human rights and social justice issues. She too lives in the riding, and wants to talk about the six core values of the party.
18.16
Koornstra gets the first question, and prefixes his question with stats about gay and bisexual men and HIV infection, and funding figures. He asks about committing funding, up to the 2003 agreed upon level, and whether it would be new money and not shuffled funds.
18.18
Dewar says yes to all three parts and tries to explain the process but says little.
18.19
Hunter looks forward to future standing committees and new funds with an eye to prevention. Talks about her time at Casey House in TO as a student, and wants more coherent funding.
18.21
Collenette says that they don't have a dollar figure in the party platform, but commits to increased funding and increased research dollars.
18.22
Michael W asks about blood donation policy including possible new wording, and asks about how they would engage their caucus about it.
18.23
Hunter was shocked as a human being about such discriminatory language, and as a person (as opposed to a robot?) she wants to fight it. Collenette warns that these questions were put into place by stealth so we need to be vigilant, and certainly she'll fight it. Dewar talks about there being no rational reason for it, but um, he's not actually informed there. It's not just the minister's call like he suggests.
18.26
Nick Little asks about safe injection sites. Will Ottawa get one?
18.27
Collenette says the Liberals support Insite and she says for Ottawa, as soon as we can but we need to get a rehab centre first. Dewar says as soon as we get the Conservatives out, and talks ideology and ignorance. Hunter says “ditto,” and fills the rest of her time.
18.30
Ariel Troster talks access to abortion, even if it is decriminalised, and Epp's bill. Asks how they would vote on such a bill, and how to improve access.
18.32
Dewar says of course he supports a woman's right to choose, and we need to focus on access, and better sex education. Hunter is again "shocked" that this is still being debated, and would vote for choice. Collenette points out this is another example of laws by stealth, and she believes in a woman's right to choose, with an anecdote about a sanctity of life question on a doorstop. Also reminder of the Canada Health Act as equal access.
18.40
Koornstra asks about drug policy and medical marijuana as it affects many with HIV.
18.41
Hunter talks about how the Greens want to legalise pot, how beneficial it would be, and how her mother has used it medicinally and it needs to be better quality. Collenette says the Liberals support decriminalising in small amounts, and she's learning more of the issue after a brief by doctors. Dewar talks about the pressured process and the need for a comprehensive review. And decriminalisation.
18.40
Michael W asks tuition accessibility, putting a queer twist on it.
18.41
Collenette touts the Liberal plan on education. Dewar points to his party platform on student loans and grants, and the learning experience of the 2005 budget. Hunter says they've been explicit about funding goals and green ventures at a macro-level. Huh?
18.44
Nick Little, as a member of POWER (Prostitutes of Ottawa/Gatineau Work Educate and Resist), asks about sex work and how many more sex workers must be murdered before they repeal those laws?
18.45
Dewar talks up Libby Davies' work, but points to the fact that most victims are aboriginal women, and says he supports POWER. Hunter says that her party hasn't much to say on this, and echoes Paul's points on vulnerable citizens. Collenette doesn't know if they would decriminalise but says we need to stop violence against women and wants to add gender to laws.
18.48
Ariel asks about equalising age of consent (for sodomy it’s still 18), and it's curious that Harper talks about throwing 14 year-olds in jail but they apparently aren’t responsible enough to have sex.
18.51
Hunter is again shocked by this, and looks south of the border for what happens when you put kids in jail. Collenette has no specific answer on anal sex but wants to talk about the principle of fairness and cited case law. And no kids in jail. Dewar gives a shout out to Omar Khadr, but gives his excuses on voting for the age of consent despite the protest from the GLBT community.
18.54
One last question from Koornstra about homelessness, since it affects people with HIV. Asks about the national strategy.
18.56
Collenette says the party wants to build 30,000 housing units and refurbishing the same number, plus making the green. Dewar goes rant-like about the housing crisis. Hunter talks about the ability of the Greens to look holistically at the issues, and that they want it to be part of eliminating poverty.
18.58
Questions from the floor, and first up is Jessica Freeman, local (and very vocal) transsexual activist. Accuses them of ignoring trans issues, and will they commit to advocating for trans issues?
19.03
Dewar talks about Siksay's bill, but not much more. Hunter says nice to meet you. Collenette says her cut-off intro would have talked trans issues. Also says Jessica educated her and she went to school to be a human rights lawyer, so she's going to fight.
19.06
Other trans activist (and Freeman nemesis) Joanne Law asks why she's being discriminated against because she has to pay $10,000 to change her M to an F on her documentation.
19.08
Hunter says she's learning to empathise. Collenette says they're looking at more than just M and F but maybe T as well.
EGALE question on gender identity and expression.
19.09
Collenette says if they're looking to add gender, they must also look at identity an expression. Dewar talks about how institutions (RCMP, Canadian Forces) fund transitions but not the general public. Hunter is a member of equal voice, so she's in favour of all equality.
19.12
McCann says this is the most civil debate he's seen.
Question from the floor about how income splitting is discrimination.
19.13
Dewar against income splitting, Hunter is for it. Collenette is against it. Puts a shout out for the Green Shift as a cut to income taxes.
19.16
Troster asks about the court challenges programme.
19.17
Hunter says she doesn't know much about it. Collenette says they'll not only bring it back but double the funding. Dewar also says they'll bring it back.
19.18
An Options counsellor talks about how it’s not just access to abortion but also information. Can we make sure the anti-choice groups don't get government funds?
19.20
Collenette asks more about it, and talks about how we need to return to activism. Dewar talks about grassroots organisations. Hunter talks about how the fear they spread is toxic.
19.23
EGALE question on assisted human reproduction, and how the law was left vague and how the panel looking at the issue is stacked.
19.24
Dewar says they did good work but had timelines, which led to delegation, but we need equal access. Hunter misunderstands and says health spending is a provincial jurisdiction, and talks about the erosion to rights of access. Collenette says they may need a national commission for proper debate but it's not in the platform.
19.28
Nick Little talks about how criminalisation of spreading HIV prevents testing and prevention.
19.29
Hunter says maybe the “stick” approach isn't working. Collenette asks a bit more but can't offer much. Dewar says it's not talked around the caucus table, and rambles about coverage of the issue and claims ignorance of the implications.
19.32
Collenette asks the panel more about the issue, and Koornstra responds that vagaries in the law leads to judges to create their own law around it.
19.33
Question about the SPP, and how it's too vague and scary, with big numbers being offered.
19.35
Collenette explains a bit about it but seems to subscribe a bit to the conspiracy theory of it, but seems unaware that Paul Martin started it—until the questioner called her on it. Dewar talks about how it's also about regulation, which is critical now, but talks about how the security cost us, and it's less democratic than the free trade agreement. Hunter says they'll scrap it.
19.37
A follow-up from Freeman about establishing a Parliamentary hearing on the status of trans people in Canada.
19.39
Dewar talks about how Siksay's private member's bill is one avenue, and how you can address the committee. Hunter reads out from the Green platform on these issues of discrimination against GLBT people. Collenette raises the possibility of a sexual identity national commission, and also suggests joining a party and working that way.
19.43
A question on human rights and trade. Collenette up first about the necessity for a dialog with those countries. Dewar talks corporate social responsibility. Hunter says she's humbled that we can't hold our country up as a paragon, but her party is more about fair trade, and we have work to do at home as well.
19.45
McCann thanks everyone and we're done after a bit of applause.
Overall impressions: This largely dealt with policy areas not covered in party platforms, which was the whole idea. Hunter was “shocked” by pretty much everything. It could have been a drinking game every time she said it. Collenette offered the most succinct answers, not always needing her allotted time, and wasn’t afraid to say when she didn’t know of issues. She was also the only one to ask the panel more about their questions either during her time or after all had their turns. Dewar, on the other hand, who has been around these sorts of events the longest, tended to talk around issues rather than offering actual answers, but with his usual bombastic rhetoric. The fact that there was no Conservative representation was likely strategic because they knew they had no chance with this particular voter demographic, and thus there was very little to separate these three candidates on purely GLBT issues.
Also? Liveblogging is difficult work, and my thumbs are a bit sore. Kady O’Malley, you have my utmost respect!
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