That’s debatable

For students tuition is a major concern as they head to the polls in October, but it is not the single issue they have, they are also concerned about health care and jobs that will impact their lives following graduation. With this in mind the Promote the Vote student group at Nipissing University hosted a debate Tuesday afternoon for students to ask questions.

The student organisers are unsure why the turn out was low, but they figure the nice weather and classes played a hand in the low number of students attending the forum hosted at the Nipissing University Theatre. But still about 100 curious students turned out to see the first official forum that had three of the five local candidates square off.

The debate saw NDP candidate Henri Giroux, Conservative candidate Bill Vrebosch and Liberal incumbent Monique Smith tackle everything from health care, seniors care to the environment; as well as social services and affordable housing.

The candidates also had a spirited discussion around coal-generators, Conservative efficiencies and Liberal spending.

Amy Restoule a 4th year Sociology student says while NDP candidate Henri Giroux made some valid points her mind wasn’t swayed by the candidates.

“I was biased going in, I’m a Liberal fan,” she states.

“Giroux won over the crowd, but the problem with the NDP is that they are all about spend now and let the future government figure it out.”

Meanwhile, first year student Matthew Velocci from Scarborough was still undecided after debate. He also said when it comes to students and politics there is a great deal of ambivalence and cynicism.

“John Tory is a moderate type of guy but the NDP and Liberals have good points,” he says.

“The media always focuses on scandals and shows us you can’t always trust the politicians.”

“I guess I will be looking at the issues right up to till Election Day. I’m not voting here as I’ll be home for reading week. That’s convenient because it’s reading week, otherwise I’d just vote here.”

Because a number of students will be voting at home, all three candidates stressed the importance of students just getting out to vote.

“If you vote … you can have a bitch,” Giroux tells the students.

Both Vrebosch and Smith agreed that it is important for students to use their voices and vote.

Meanwhile, in the eleventh hour, two new candidates joined the race with both Suzanne Plouffe of the Family Coalition of Ontario and Amy Brownridge with the Green party filing their papers and officially making the number of candidates in Nipissing five.