Candidates in the Thunder Bay-Rainy River riding are pledging to help American tourists with minor criminal records, enter Canada easier.
Responding to a question from the Northwestern Ontario Tourist Outfitters Association at Wednesday night's debate in Fort Frances, Green Party Candidate Ed Shields was surprised to hear that actor Charlie Sheen was able to enter into Canada with ease while tourists with offences such as impaired driving, are being refused at borders here.
"As think as government, I'd want to make sure that we have equal treatment, under the law and under situations coming into our border, by everyone," says Shields.
Conservative Candidate Maureen Comuzzi-Stehmann says she'll work to eliminate the red tape visitors go through to enter the country.
"Our government has been very active, in fact before this election, with the American authorities to eliminate that red tape," says Comuzzi-Stehmann.
Liberal candidate Ken Boshcoff says making Americans more aware of the steps they can take to enter Canada can help.
"Awareness is the key," says Boshcoff. "Our great need now is to promote effectively in the United States so that any of these issues are dealt with before they get to the border."
NDP incumbent John Rafferty says he's tried to find out if complaints about the Fort Frances border are unique.
"Then I also requested a meeting in Ottawa with Canada Border Services Agency chief," says Rafferty, "and the head in Thunder Bay. Neither of those were forthcoming. They refused to meet with me."
Candidates also touched on forestry, pensions and the economy
