CHCO-TV teamed up with the St. Stephen Area Chamber of Commerce and the Town of St. Stephen to host a "Meet Your Federal Election Candidates: New Brunswick Southwest Votes," moderated by CHCO-TV News Director Vicki Hogarth, on Saturday, September 4th. All five candidates for the riding of New Brunswick Southwest participated in the event: Jason Hickey (Liberal Party), John Reist (Green Party), Meryl Sarty (People's Party of Canada), Richard Warren (New Democratic Party) and incumbent John Williamson (Conservative Party).

The event was not a traditional debate. It was an opportunity for voters to hear directly from their New Brunswick Southwest candidates to find out where they and their party stand on important issues that affect their lives and their riding. Each candidate was given three minutes to make an an opening statement, beginning alphabetically with Jason Hickey. 

Opening statements were followed by an intensive question and answer period. The questions were all pre-submitted by the public and vetted by the St. Stephen and Area Chamber of Commerce. Each candidate took turns going first to answer for the sake of fairness. The candidates did not know the questions prior to being asked them during the event. They each had up to one minute to answer and no cross-talk was allowed.  

In total, the candidates answered 12 different questions over the course of the one and a half hour event. The topics ranged from how they would address the housing crisis and the labour market to how they would build a more inclusive community for immigrants and the LGBTQ community. Other important regional topics were also highlighted, such as what solutions the candidates felt were most appropriate to address the need for a Campobello ferry connection year-round. 

At the end of the evening, the candidates were given another three minutes each to make closing statements. The broadcast premiered on September 4, 2021 in order to reach voters before the early polls open on September 9, 2021 and well in advance of the federal election on September 20, 2021.

Note: CHCO Community TV and all CACTUS's LJI partners are committed to a full discussion of the election and offers equal time to all candidates.