FEDERAL ELECTION 2008 – CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE
These questionnaires have been prepared by Chatham ARPA and Langley ARPA and may be of use for you in your riding. A questionnaire can be a very effective way to inform your local churches about where the candidates stand on issues that matter to you. Remind the candidates how many people in your riding will be reading their answers!
Questions Courtesy of Chatham ARPA:
– What in your opinion is Canada’s greatest social challenge today?
– With soaring energy prices, how do you and your party plan to protect and stimulate the Canadian economy?
– What if anything, do you believe to be the relevance of the Human Rights Commission in Canada today? Would you/your party be in favour of dissolving the HRC or to revamp it to better reflect social needs today?
– With the birthrate of only 1.5, and bearing in mind immigration, Canada still is experiencing an aging population. The number of taxpayers continues to decline as the number or retirees increase. How does your party intend to account and plan appropriately for demographic decline in the future?
– What in your opinion are the two most crucial items on your party’s platform that differentiate your party from other choices Canadians have?
– Do you believe that all forms of human life deserve legislated protection from conception until natural death? If not, what exceptions would you allow and why?
– What do you believe is your greatest personal contribution to society, and how do you feel it would be a benefit to the constituents should you be elected?
– When it comes to decision making, would you follow your conscience, vote according to the wishes of your constituents, or follow party line?
Questions Courtesy of Langley ARPA:
– What qualifies you to represent Langley in Ottawa?
– The national birth rate is 1.5 children per woman, which is less than China and well below the replacement rate of 2.1. What does your party intend to do to about our shrinking population?
– Would you support legislation that would allow income splitting within families, as currently exists for seniors?
– What is your greatest personal contribution to society? How do you think it will be beneficial for your constituents, should you be elected?
– What legal protection, if any, should be given to the unborn? Why?
– Our government currently allows 3,500 privately sponsored refugees per year, e.g. through church sponsorships, but this target is never met because of a lack of resources overseas at the visa posts. What would you do, if anything, to make it easier for privately sponsored refugees to come to Canada?
– How would you resolve a conflict between your conscience, your party’s position and the wishes of your constituents?
– Would you support physician-assisted suicide or euthanasia?
– Freedom of religion and freedom of expression are stated to be fundamental freedoms under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Do you think that section 13 of the Canadian Human Rights Act, which provides that it is a discriminatory practice to communicate any matter that is “likely” to expose a person or persons to hatred or contempt, but does not require actual evidence of hatred, is a legitimate restriction on the fundamental freedoms set out in the Charter? Would you support legislation reforming or even eliminating the Canadian Human Rights Act or the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal?
– Is there anything you would like to tell the Reformed Christian community in Langley?
