Toronto Centre byelection candidates face off in debate

The candidates running to replace Bob Rae in a federal byelection squared off in Toronto Centre on Wednesday night.

The NDP’s Linda McQuaig, Liberal Chrystia Freeland, Conservative candidate Geoff Pollock and Green Party candidate John Deverell all participated in the debate, held at downtown Jarvis Collegiate Institute.

The debate was moderated by former provincial Tory leader and radio show host John Tory.

Freeland and McQuaig, considered the frontrunners, sparred over the middle class. The Toronto Centre riding, which includes both tony Rosedale and Canada’s largest public housing neighbourhood Regent Park, has one of the largest income gaps in the country.

McQuaig said the federal government should stimulate economic growth through spending and argued the Canada Pension Plan should be strengthened, while Freeland said corporate tax cuts should remain in place and be linked to job creation.

Both were in favour of a national housing strategy.

Pollock praised the Harper government’s economic record while Deverell criticized the current “first-past-the-post” voting system. It’s an old horse-racing term that means the candidate with the most votes in the riding is the winner.

One criticism is that a party could come in second in every single riding and yet see no seats in Parliament. Deverell said about half the cast ballots don’t count.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the byelection in October to fill the seat vacated by Liberal MP Bob Rae, who stepped down on July 31. Voters will head to the polls on Monday.

Three other byelections will also be held that day, one in the Montreal area and two in Manitoba.

Click here to find a polling station.