Canada election 2015: Meet your Cambridge candidates

CBC Kitchener-Waterloo will be hosting the candidates in all of Waterloo Region's five ridings for panel discussions on issues affecting the community in the run-up to the Oct. 19 federal election.

• Meet your Kitchener South - Hespeler candidates
• Meet yourKitchenerConestoga candidates
• Meet your Kitchener Centre candidates
• Meet your Waterloo candidates

We heard from theNDP, Liberal and Green candidates in Cambridgein our Thursday panel discussion on CBC Radio'sTheMorning Editionwith host Craig Norris. Conservative candidate Gary Goodyear declined our request to participate.

Bobbi Stewart - NDP

"My biggest concern about Cambridge is poverty," said Bobbi Stewart,who noted 827 people use the food bank every month in Cambridge, be it families, seniors or the working poor.

"With an NDP government we will raise the federal minimum wage, we will put money into job creation for youth, we will provide internships," said Stewart. "We need good, full-time jobs."

Stewart said the NDP would invest money from the gas tax into public transit initiativesand would work with other levels of government to make things happen.

Bryan May - Liberals

"I'm running because we're going backwards on many issues: jobs, the environment, our reputation abroad," saidBryanMay."We must do better."

May cited his experience working with the YMCA, the Boys and Girls Club, the University of Waterloo and the Social Planning Council for Cambridge and North Dumfries as the reasonwhy he's in the best position to evaluate and address the needs of Cambridge residents.

"The Liberal platform specifically addresses the needs of the disadvantaged and the middle class," said May.

May said as an MP for Cambridge he wouldn't make empty promises, and he'd work to improve transit infrastructure in the city.

Michele Braniff - Green Party

"We need to start talking about community building dialogues, collaboration, not a dialogue of fear," said Michele Braniffon The Morning Edition.

"The reality is if you talk about the economy, the environment, the people, the political system is all interrelated, we need to have some systems conversations," Braniff said.

Braniff said the Green Party wants to introduce a national transit strategy, tying the county together, and looking at alternative forms of transportation.

"It's not all about cars.It's about bicycles, transit, looking at designs of cities," said Braniff.

Braniffalso highlighted the role art and culture playswhen it comes to economic growth and attracting talent."Businesses move to places where their employees can thrive," said Braniff. "So the arts and culture is very important."

• Listen to the full discussion here