The Canadian Colours Kingston Foundation hosted our first All Candidates Town Hall on September 12, 2021. Instead of a debate, this event invited the political candidates for the 2021 Federal Election together to discuss how their respective platforms will support Black, Indigenous and Persons of Colour (BIPOC) as well as other underrepresented groups in Canada and our community.
Canadian Colours of Kingston Foundation was created to bring different cultures, mindsets and backgrounds together to foster understanding and communication and embrace change to create a diverse and inclusive community. We believe this responsibility also lies with educating and understanding not only our community members, but also our politicians about the issues being faced in our community. This event will provide an opportunity for candidates to discuss how their platforms will support the BIPOC and underrepresented communities over the next four years and get a chance to hear from some of the underrepresented groups in Kingston.
The Candidates and Their Platforms:
- Mark Gerretsen – Liberal Party of Canada
Elected as the MP for Kingston and the Islands in 2015, Mark has been working hard to grow our local economy, strengthen the middle class, and help our families and local communities thrive. He lives in Kingston with his wife and 3 children.
https://markgerretsen.libparl.ca/ - Gary Oosterhof – Conservative Party of Canada
Gary has spent almost 40 years in Kingston with his wife Corina and their four children. As the son of Dutch immigrants, Gary grew up working on his family’s dairy farm outside Athens and is proud of his rural Ontario roots.
https://garyoosterhof.com/ - Vic Sahai – New Democratic Party of Canada
A public health scientist who has built diverse teams and led with vision for 30 years, Vic has helped Kingstonians and others live healthier lives, acting based on evidence. Vic will fight for a fairer and more sustainable future for everyone.
https://vicndp.ca/ - Dr. Waji Khan – Green Party of Canada
As a business owner, husband and father of two, Waji has concerns about the financial situation and massive debt in Canada. He is passionate about issues such as health care and the ability of families to afford quality health care.
https://wajikhan.ca/ - Shelley Sayle-Udall – People’s Party of Canada
Raised in Kingston, Shelley is a mother and mental health therapist. Passionate about functional health and wellness, she has worked to better the health and welfare of many families.
https://peoplespartyofcanadakingston.ca/candidates/
View the full town hall discussion from YourTV below:
