Harris Kirshenbaum - Liberal Party of Canada Candidate (Submitted photo)

By Olivia Thorington

Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner

Meet the Candidate – Harris Kirshenbaum (Liberal Party of Canada)

Sep 30, 2019 | 10:51 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — Harris Kirshenbaum says the upcoming federal election is a critical one for Canada.

“This coming one will essentially set the targets for Canada for the next four years,” he said during a recent phone interview. “Obviously, I think the direction of the present government is in fact very positive. I support it in almost every single way. I think detracting from the ability of that government to move forward is just the absolute wrong thing to do.”

Kirshenbaum is representing the Liberal Party of Canada in the Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner riding. He is a retired consultant who has worked on multiple campaigns for the Liberal Party at the provincial and federal level, and has lived in Calgary for the past 20 years. This election is his first as a candidate.

Kirshenbaum says climate change is one of the two biggest issues facing the electorate this election.

“If we lose a grip on the advances in the changing climate, we are in bigger trouble than we can imagine,” he said. “It is the responsibility of governments and citizens to do what we can to bring this problem under control, and do it in short order, or the mess that we leave for our children and grandchildren is not going to be documentable, it’s going to be gigantic.”

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Kirshenbaum adds the other major issue facing Canadians is ensuring there is a “safety net,” for vulnerable Canadians.

“That means we don’t let people in Canada drop between the cracks, we make sure there is security there for people who are not making it,” he said. “That means that when you implement tax changes, that you apply additional taxes to people who can afford it, and you reduce the taxes on people who can’t afford it. This is how a social benefit system works.”

Kirshenbaum was also asked about the blackface and brownface scandal Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau has faced during the campaign. He says it will not likely not have an impact on the party’s election prospects.

“At this point, it’s a dead issue,” he said.

Medicine Hat last elected a Liberal Member of Parliament in 1968. Voters have sent Progressive Conservative, Reform Party, Canadian Alliance Party and Conservative Party of Canada candidates to Ottawa in subsequent elections. In the 2016 by-election, Glen Motz was elected with almost 70 per cent of the vote.

Kirshenbaum acknowledges there will be challenge in the riding to get elected, but he is prepared.

“My view on how you meet the challenge is you put down a positive set of goals and vision for the future, and you build that argument on them as to how voting differently is going to be to the benefit of the people in this community,” he said.

Kirshenbaum says he plans to campaign in Medicine Hat beginning next week, and will be at the Chamber of Commerce election forum on October 2.