Mixed reviews on how the leaders did in their debates

The five candidates seeking to represent Dufferin — Caledon in the House of Commons after the Oct. 14 federal election were once again contacted over the last week for their spontaneous thoughts and responses to a set of predetermined questions.

Their replies are presented here in alphabetical order.

Who won the leaders'

debates?

New Democrat Jason Bissett thought Liberal Leader Stephane Dion won the French debate.

As for the English session, "if anything, it was a toss-up between (Conservative Stephen) Harper (Green Elizabeth) May and (New Democrat Jack ) Layton."

He added Harper defended himself well against the frequent attacks, May proved she belonged at the table and Layton made a number of good points.

"Content wise, I think Dion did," commented Liberal candidate Rebecca Finch. She added Dion was the "hands-down" winner in terms of performance.

"Mr. Harper," replied Conservative incumbent David Tilson, referring to the Prime Minister. "I believe the others, their sole job was to take shots at Mr. Harper, than constructively discuss the issues."

"The others were not acting like a prime minister," Tilson added, stating Harper was "priministerial."

"I think Elizabeth May did," replied Green party candidate Ard Van Leeuwen. "She exceeded all expectations, came out of nowhere and held her own against the country's best politicians."

"I would have to say Jack Layton," replied Canadian Action Party candidate Dean Woods. "It's my own personal opinion."

He added his party wants Canadian troops out of Afghanistan, and he said Layton was the only leader who called for that.

"It was a real action-comedy show, I thought," Woods observed.

Do you favour capital

punishment?

Bissett said he would favour it for serious crimes, especially if it involved emergency service people, like police or firefighters.

"No," Finch said. "I don't think we have the right to take anybody's life."

"It's not on our agenda," Tilson said. "We have no plans to debate the topic of capital punishment in Parliament."

Since it's not on any agenda, Tilson said he would not discuss hypothetical issues, although he did say if it did come up for debate, they would have to be mindful of errors that have been made in the past.

"No, not at all," Van Leeuwen said. "I don't think the state's authority should reach that far."

He added the number of people who have been wrongfully convicted over the years should be reason enough for not having the death penalty.

"No, I do not," said Woods. "I feel that sometimes the judiciary system is not 100 per cent in its convictions."

"I don't believe it's a deterrent," he added. Should Canadian forces be

operating in Afghanistan?

"Canada's always been known as a humanitarian country," Bissett said. He added Canada shouldn't be involved in a full-blown war, but it can't just yank the troops out.

"They should remain because we're there," Finch said. She added it's another issue as to whether Canadians should have gone there in the first place, but now that they are there, she said it would be "irresponsible to walk away."

Tilson said Canada has made a commitment to stay there until 2011.

"I support that," he said. "I voted for it and I continue to vote for it."

"They certainly should be operating there until the end of our commitment," Van Leeuwen remarked, adding there is a role for Canada to play in international missions, if not in Afghanistan, then somewhere else.

"No, I think they should be home," Woods declared.

He added his party believes 9-11 was a "falseflag terrorist attack" with too many inconsistencies in the aftermath.

Woods pointed out the RCMP was quick to start an investigation into the murder of a Canadian couple in Mexico a couple of years ago. But 24 Canadians died in 9-11, and Canada has taken the American version of events as truth, with no investigation.

Does the government do enough to support

the arts?

"It used to," Bissett said, commenting on cuts that have taken place in this area. "Without the arts and culture, we wouldn't have our identity here in Canada."

"There's a lot of room for improvement," he added.

"Not this government," Finch said.

She admitted that before the Conservatives took power, there were some problems with some programs, but she argued that's no reason to just cut them. They could be made to run properly. Finch added there are some artists who need assistance but who don't get it, while others receive help they don't really needed.

"Yes," Tilson said. "The government's budget for heritage and the arts went up eight per cent."

But he also stressed that the arts have to be treated like other programs, meaning they come to an end, or their funding expires. "You don't automatically get grants forever," he said.

"It can do more," Van Leeuwen said. "The arts provide us with a Canadian identity and a defence against the large cultural influence from the south."

"And it makes economic sense," he added. "There is a huge spinoff in jobs for arts programs and tourism dollars."

"I'm going to say no," Woods responded, who charged Harper would grant tax credits to companies like Exxon-Mobile, and cut back funding to the arts.