Federal election candidates in Lambton-Kent-Middlesex touched on how they intend to make their riding a priority on Parliament Hill, during an all candidates debate on Thursday.
The debate was hosted by BlackburnNews.com and Country 92.9 FM / 630 AM CFCO and used prerecorded questions from community members within the riding.
Liberal candidate Ken Filson says it will be important to educate other members of parliament from bigger ridings on the importance of small communities within Lambton-Kent-Middlesex.
"Most of the MPs are coming from Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal and other cities, and they don't have a proper perspective on what actually goes on out here... only because they don't understand the vitality and the industriousness of the people," he says. "It's really, really important that an MP is an educator of other MPs and you have somebody who will stand up for the values and the communities of Lambton-Kent-Middlesex."
Bev Shipley, the Conservative incumbent, says the priority has to be support for small business within the riding.
"If you're going to have success within these small communities, these small businesses need an opportunity to hire people," he says. "When you hire people you have an opportunity for those products to be sold. Not only nationally within our own country, but internationally."
NDP candidate Rex Isaac says his party wants to ensure, if elected, their government can be depended on by those living in all ridings.
"Every single individual living in Lambton-Kent-Middlesex counts and (NDP Leader) Tom Mulcair has told his ministers that 'when you elect me as your minister, it's not going to be a top-down government,'" he says. "(Mulcair) wants to make sure that I as your minister bring your issues to Ottawa, not the other way around."
The Green Party’s Jim Johnston says every riding in Canada, big or small, should be treated equally.
"When I become an MP I will create a website that you can register in, and you can tell me how you feel about all of the polices that coming in front of the government and how you feel about where we should go with it," says Johnston. "My job is to represent your interest in Ottawa."
During the debate, the candidates also talked issues surrounding Syrian refugees in Canada, local drug enforcement and ensuring proper senior income.