La Loche Friendship Centre Hosts Election Debate

La Loche Friendship Centre Hosts Election Debate

Wednesday, January 18, 2006 at 15:37

The candidates representing the three major parties in the federal election race in northern Saskatchewan are taking part in a debate today in La Loche.

The La Loche Friendship Centre is hosting this afternoon’s exchange. The debate is also being broadcast in La Loche on the local radio and cable TV stations.

Friendship Centre director Leonard Montgrand is moderating the debate.

He says he organized the event to encourage voter turnout in La Loche. In the 2004 election, less than 300 local residents voted, despite a population of about 4,000 people.

Montgrand calls that turnout “very sad”, and says La Loche residents need to be heard from in Monday’s vote if they hope to influence federal politicians.

However, Montgrand notes voter interest seems to be higher this time around, since he’s hearing that the turnout at the advance polls in La Loche was close to the entire voter turnout in the community in the 2004 election.

Montgrand says the questions posed to the candidates today concern issues important to the La Loche area itself, and to the riding, in general.