As the Conservative Party and the Liberal Party remain , a minority government is on the minds of both politicians and the electorate.

That became clear during the Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola all-candidates forum on Wednesday (Oct. 9) at the Westbank Lions Community Centre after an audience member asked the MP hopefuls how they would tackle the hypothetical situation.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e spoken to a lot of veteran MPs who actually lived through minority governments. I害羞草研究所檒l tell you what, it is a very rough, turbulent time,害羞草研究所� said Conservative candidate Dan Albas.

害羞草研究所淥ftentimes, the relationships are strained and people end up with very hard feelings over a period of time.害羞草研究所�

Albas went on to explain a recent experience he had working with opposing parliamentarians after a report was released that identified at least $5 billion in real estate money laundering in B.C. over just one year.

害羞草研究所淚 was so impressed that Liberal members, many who had openly rejected my ideas at the beginning of the process, came around to those same ideas and we presented that to the minister of finance. That害羞草研究所檚 how the system should work.害羞草研究所�

Albas said he would be 害羞草研究所渧ery tested害羞草研究所� to work with the Bloc Quebecois as 害羞草研究所淐anada is stronger as a united whole.害羞草研究所�

READ MORE: Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola candidates discuss issues

READ MORE: Green Party candidate apologizes for Facebook post peddling 9/11 conspiracy

Liberal candidate Mary Ann Murphy said it害羞草研究所檚 not an issue of whether she害羞草研究所檚 willing to work with other parties.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 the responsibility of a member of parliament to represent you instead of going to Ottawa to engage in fighting with the other parties and spending most of their time bickering,害羞草研究所� she said.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 sick of that. I害羞草研究所檓 sick of hearing about it. I would like to see results.害羞草研究所�

Murphy added that her support of other parties would come 害羞草研究所渋ssue-by-issue.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淐ould I accept one of the party害羞草研究所檚 positions on immigration? No, I couldn害羞草研究所檛,害羞草研究所� she said, motioning towards the People害羞草研究所檚 Party of Canada candidate Allan Duncan.

害羞草研究所淐ould I accept the Conservative害羞草研究所檚 position on the TMX (Trans Mountain Pipeline)? Of course, I could.害羞草研究所�

She went on to say she would also accept the Green position to work on climate and the NDP害羞草研究所檚 Indigenous reconciliation policies.

The NDP害羞草研究所檚 Joan Phillip said she would work with any government that wants to 害羞草研究所渓ift up people.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e been subsidizing that top one per cent for too long,害羞草研究所� she stated.

害羞草研究所淲orking people should be brought up and not pushed down as they have been over the past 152 years.害羞草研究所�

According to Phillip, the Conservative and Liberal governments have created a 害羞草研究所渃ondition害羞草研究所� in which the wealthiest people are taxed the least.

Duncan believes the parliamentary system already encourages co-operation between MPs and the People害羞草研究所檚 Party will bring a currently unheard voice to those conversations.

害羞草研究所淭hat voice needs to be heard. I know there害羞草研究所檚 a lot of aggressive rhetoric to get that voice out,害羞草研究所� he said.

害羞草研究所淚 like to work with as many dance partners as possible. I like making new friends. I害羞草研究所檇 be willing to work with any of the parties, just as that is part of my personality.害羞草研究所�

He agreed with Albas that working with the Bloc Quebecois would be a problem but said he would still work with the party on issues that didn害羞草研究所檛 involve the leverage of separatism.

Robert Mellalieu of the Green Party started his statement on the issue with a pertinent joke: 害羞草研究所渁 camel is a horse built by committee.害羞草研究所�

Mellalieu attributed the Green Party害羞草研究所檚 unwillingness to work with the Conservatives on their stance on environmental issues.

害羞草研究所淥nce we get them convinced that their climate plan isn害羞草研究所檛 going to work and they should take a look at the Green one 害羞草研究所� then we can work with the Conservatives,害羞草研究所� he said.

Mellalieu also reminded the audience both universal health care and old-age pension were put in place by minority governments.

害羞草研究所淒on害羞草研究所檛 be afraid of that. Some good things will come of it,害羞草研究所� he said.

michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com
Like us on and follow us on .