Federal election 2015: Meet your Kitchener South-Hespeler candidates

In the run-up to the election on Oct.19, CBC Kitchener-Waterloo ishosting the candidates in all of Waterloo Region's five ridings for panel discussions on issuesaffecting ourcommunity.

• Meet your Kitchener Conestoga candidates

• Meet your Kitchener Centre candidates

• Meet your Waterloo candidates

On Monday we heard from the Conservative, NDP, Liberal and Green candidates inKitchenerSouth-Hespeler in a panel discussion on CBC Radio'sTheMorning Editionwith host Craig Norris.

Marian Gagn - Conservative

"Balancing the budget is important to people. Just as we would balance our household budget, so we should balance our national budget," said Conservative candidateMarian Gagn.

Gagn said if she were electedshe would work to keep creating jobs and maintaining a budget surplus in Ottawa.

"People want a steady, affordable approach to government," she said.

Gagn said she's hearing from residents that Conservative initiatives like income splitting and extending tax-free savings account limits are the reasons they plan to vote blue on Oct. 19.

LorneBruce - NDP

"It's a comprehensive, prudent, cost-effective plan," said NDP candidateLorneBruce about theNDP'splatform, onThe Morning Edition."It's not pie in the sky kind of stuff, its the kind of things that make a real difference in people's lives."

Bruce citedplans toinvest in small business, seniors and child care as ways the NDP are committing to helping Canadians day-to-day.

When it comes to infrastructure investment, Bruce said he wants to make sure the federal government helps provide the support for upgrading transit systems in Waterloo Region.

"One of the highest priorities is two-way GO [service],all day," said Bruce.

Marwan Tabbara - Liberal

"We're been losing a lot of manufacturing jobs in the area," said Tabbara. "We need to keep the talent pool here and we're investing in jobs."

Tabbara said the Liberals are plugged into the needs of families and plan to focus on those demands from job creation to child benefits.

"I've studied politics for many years," said Tabbara. "I've gathered all that experience and knowledge and I know that our Liberal plan right now is a really good plan."

"We're going to grow this economy, we're going to get out of this recession and we're going to help Canadians move forward."

David Weber - Green

"There's an awful lot of people that are frustrated," said DavidWeber."All they know is the NDP have moved to the right, the Liberals are the same as the Conservatives, nobody does what they say they're going to do."

That's where the Green Party is different, Weber said.

Weber said tuition costs, international affairs and healthcare concerns are all key issues to him.

After 28 years in policing, Weber said he knows how to gather information, weigh the facts and make decisions prudently, which makes him a good pick for the role of member of parliament in Kitchener South-Hespeler.

• Want to hear the full discussion? Listen here