Climate crisis needs immediate action, candidates in Kitchener Centre say

CBC invited candidates from the parties represented in the House of Commons for a panel discussion. Candidates for the Kitchener Centre riding were asked about climate change, the post-COVID-19 economy and how they'd have their voices heard if elected.

Conservative candidate Mary Heinen Thorn declined the invitation to take part. The Liberal candidate, Raj Saini, has ended his campaign for re-election.

The climate crisis is a "code red for humanity" and Canada needs to do more to address it, Kitchener Centre Green party candidate Mike Morrice says.

"We need to have a climate plan that follows the science," he said in a panel discussion with CBC Kitchener-Waterloo. 

As he knocks on doors, he says he's heard concerns from people of all ages about climate. Morrice has felt that himself — it was a lack of political leadership that spurred him to start Sustainable Waterloo Region 20 years ago.

"We need to have a climate plan that follows the science on climate," he said. "This is a code red for humanity."

Beisan Zubi, the NDP candidate in Kitchener Centre, says she is also hearing many people raise the climate crisis as a major concern in this federal election.