They didn't shake hands afterwards but Joe Trasolini and Dennis Marsden were at least cordial during the first all-candidates' meeting for the Port Moody-Coquitlam byelection.
The NDP and BC Liberal contenders took a few swipes at each other during the two-hour event hosted by the Tri-Cities' Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday night - the same time advance voting was happening next door at the Port Moody rec complex and during the Vancouver Canucks' first game of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Trasolini, who sported a Canucks jersey and had many supporters in the crowd, criticized Marsden on the BC Liberals' stance on the failed HST, the proposed selling of corporate assets to balance the provincial budget and Bill 22, the legislation passed last month to end the teachers' job action that Trasolini described as "an impediment to meaningful dialogue."
Trasolini also blasted the BC Liberals' "bad decisions" on BC Rail, bonuses for Crown corporation employees and the cancellation of a $40-million deal to rename BC Place Stadium. Trasolini called himself a "known quantity" who is "approachable, accountable and strongly believes in public consultation.... I have 15 years of keeping promises."
Marsden, on the other hand, took a more personal aim by focusing, in particular, on the former Port Moody mayor's leadership abilities. Marsden singled out Trasolini's track record in his dealings with Anmore and Belcarra - particularly, how village residents are charged extra for programs at the PoMo rec centre and to access drinking water - and for not gaining federal grants to build a new Murray-Clarke Connector to ease traffic gridlock. Marsden, a banking manager who said he has knocked on 10,000 doors during the campaign, described himself as a longtime community volunteer who is "proactive and open... I'm not going to change the way I operate. I'm collaborative."
BC Conservative candidate Christine Clarke, meanwhile, held back on attacking her opponents and zeroed in on the differences between the three parties. The governing BC Liberals and NDP, she said, are "addicted to spending" and argued her party, led by John Cummins, would offer an alternative, a "strong new voice" for B.C. where residents would "feel good about the taxes we pay." Clarke did not "sell" herself like her opponents but noted she and her family have lived in the riding for 12 years.
Emceed by Coquitlam lawyer Richard Rainey, a past Chamber president, the three candidates fielded dozens of written questions from the audience of about 50 people, which included New Westminster-Coquitlam MP Fin Donnelly and MLAs Diane Thorne (NDP, Coquitlam-Maillardville) and Doug Horne (BC Liberal, Coquitlam-Burke Mountain). The question topics ranged from social media networking and business property taxes to post-secondary education and cuts in the coroners' office.
Despite their differences, all three candidates agreed they would lobby for enhanced mental-health services at Riverview Hospital in Coquitlam.
"The problems in the Downtown Eastside are a direct result of Riverview closing," Trasolini said while Marsden said he, when he was Chamber president, won support from BC Chamber of Commerce delegates on a motion to preserve the historic lands for mental-health patients.
As for the long-awaited $70-million Murray-Clarke Connector, both Marsden and Clarke said they wouldn't touch it until after the Evergreen Line and Port Mann/Highway 1 improvements are in place. Trasolini contended the link near Rocky Point Park is the biggest "roadblock" for Tri-City commuters and he challenged his opponents to lobby for federal cash to widen it.
Voting day is April 19.
