There's no doubt climate change became a popular topic among Tri-City residents this past summer.
Mother Nature brought in more wildfires and three heat waves, including the dome that hovered over the Lower Mainland in late June that saw temperatures reach the mid-to-late 40C with humidity.
The unprecedented events are likely to be brought up at a debate scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 8 for 2021 federal election candidates in the Port Moody-Coquitlam and Coquitlam-Port Coquitlam ridings.
100 Debates on the Environment is a nationwide organization that puts together non-partisan forums in each election year. According to its website, its goal is "to make the environment an issue that no party and no candidate can ignore."
The group — teaming up with Tri-Cities Force of Nature for the event — is encouraging local residents to submit an environment-related candidate question ahead of the two hours debates.
Four of the nine candidates in the Tri-Cities two federal ridings have confirmed to attend the 100 Debates event (listed in alphabetical order):
PORT MOODY-COQUITLAM
- Will Davis — Liberal
- Bonita Zarrillo — NDP
COQUITLAM-PORT COQUITLAM
- Laura Dupont — NDP
- Ron McKinnon — Liberal (incumbent)
As of this publication (Sept. 3), 100 Debates spokesperson Erik Minty says candidates representing the Conservatives, People's Party and Marxist-Leninist Party have yet to respond to their invitation with a Sunday (Sept. 5) deadline.
The Tri-City News will update this story if and when more candidates are confirmed for the debates.
Port Coquitlam Coun. Steve Darling is set to moderate the Port Moody-Coquitlam debate from 7 to 9 p.m. Details for Coquitlam-Port Coquitlam are still being finalized.
For more information and how to submit a question, you're encouraged to visit the 100 Debates website.
This will be the second debate in as many nights for federal candidates with the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce hosting the first on Sept. 7.
