Three stars of provincial politics meet in CBC Sudbury election forum

Provincial candidates from the northeastfaced off on Thursday night for the first time in this election campaign.

The election forumhostedby CBC Sudbury was emotional, as well as political with citizens telling their stories to the candidates.

A single mother with twokids, a young couple struggling with student debt and a business owner upset about government regulation were among the people who put a personal tinge on political issues for the three candidates and the crowd of about 100 at St. Andrew's Place in downtown Sudbury.

Their stories will be featured at cbc.ca/sudbury in the coming days.

The three political veteransSudbury Liberal Glenn Thibeault, Nipissing Conservative Vic Fedeli and Nickel Belt New Democrat France Gelinasdid exchange barbs over several hot button issues.

A question from the floor about growing the economy, prompted Thibeault to boast about how the Liberal government has created 500 jobs a day since Kathleen Wynne became the premier.

"You cannot say we're leading the G7 in growth, when we're not even leading on our country," Fedelisaid, pointing a finger at Thibeault.

"But economists are showing that as well Vic, that we are leading, that we are growing in this province," Thibeaultsaid.

"Creating 500 jobs a day that you need to put two or three together to make ends meet is not creating wealth, it's not helping our economy," said Gelinas.

The cost of hydro came up several times over the evening, with Gelinasrepeatedly pushing her party's pledge to buy back the portion of Hydro One that was privatized by the Liberal government in recent years.

"Every other government has been able to keep hydro public and invest in hospitals and build roads," said Gelinas.

"It was to help the Liberal government, not to help us."

Fedelitook issue with the NDP hydro plan, saying that buying back the shares with the $250 million annual dividend from the electric utility will take too long .

"People need relief on their hydro bill today, not 25 years from now," he said.

"The sale of Hydro One has not raised the price of electricity by one single cent," Thibeaultshot back.

"Nobody believes you," Gelinas replied.