Ahead of the April 28 federal election, Efteen sent a list of questions to each of the candidates seeking the Member of Parliament seat in Cariboo-Prince George.
Each candidate was asked the same questions, there are seven candidates total in the riding. These are the answers received by Conservative incumbent Todd Doherty.
Advance polls for the election are open April 18 to April 21 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. People can register to vote, check their registration status and find more information about the electoral process at Elections.ca.
What qualities or experiences make you the best candidate for voters in Cariboo-Prince George to cast their ballot for?
My wife and I grew up in the Cariboo so many of you have known me for years. You know I listen to you, I fight for you, and I deliver results. I’m running again because Cariboo—Prince George deserves strong, experienced representation that reflects the values of our region and stands up for our way of life. Over the years, we’ve stood together during trying times like wildfires, floods and landslides. I’ve also fought for lower taxes, safer communities and necessary infrastructure projects that provide well paying jobs. There’s more work to be done and I’m committed to seeing that through.
What, in your view, is the biggest issue facing voters in Cariboo-Prince George? How will you address it?
Affordability. Whether it’s gas, groceries, or homes, life has become unaffordable after 10 years of Liberals. We’ve never seen 2 million Canadians accessing food banks before. We’ve never seen an entire generation watch the dream of home ownership slip away. We’ve never seen so many job losses and mill closures in our region. Conservatives will address affordability by lowering your income taxes by 15 per cent, controlling inflation by balancing government spending, cutting red tape and bureaucracy to build homes faster, and unleashing our resource sector to bring home good paying jobs.
Does your party believe that human-caused climate change is real, and if so, what concrete plans does your party have to tackle it?
Yes, climate change is real. Conservatives will reduce emissions through technology, not taxes. We will incentivize the private sector to do what it does best — innovate. Through technological advances like carbon capture, nuclear energy, etc, we will reduce emissions without punishing Canadians for driving their cars or heating their homes. Further, by exporting our cleaner LNG and oil to European and Asian markets, we will reduce the world’s dependence on Chinese coal or dirty oil from Russia and the Middle East, which will have the net effect of reducing global emission levels.
Given the riding's size and centralization of Prince George, how will you ensure all of your constituents are represented?
Since 2015, I’ve worked tirelessly to ensure that all my constituents feel represented and heard. I work a full week in Ottawa, jump on the plane home, arrive late on Friday night and then head out into the region early Saturday morning. It’s my favourite part of the job. Our office deals with dozens of constituents every day, helping them with issues ranging from immigration to taxes. I love this region, and if re-elected, I’m committed to continuing our regional meetings and being as accessible as possible. If you have a question, concern, or suggestion, I want you to feel like you can reach me anytime. No matter where you live in Cariboo—Prince George, and no matter who you vote for in this election, I will be your voice and your champion. That’s my promise to you.
How is your party planning to deal with the trade threats coming from the U.S. administration, and/or the president’s talk of annexing Canada?
A Conservative government will not back down to President Trump. We will never be the 51st state. We will fight back with reciprocal tariffs if necessary — on goods that we can either make here at home or purchase elsewhere. Every dollar generated from reciprocal tariffs will be used to support Canadian workers and businesses. Furthermore, we will break down interprovincial trade barriers in Canada to get our goods to market here at home.
