Thunder Bay's federal election candidates share top issues they're hearing about on campaign trail

Affordability and U.S. tariffs were the main concerns shared by voters and candidates alike at Wednesday night's meet and greet in Thunder Bay, Ont., ahead of Monday's federal election.

The event was hosted by the Thunder Bay Public Library at its Waverley branch. All candidates from the Thunder Bay—Superior North and Thunder Bay—Rainy River ridings were invited, and all but the Greens attended.

It was an informal gathering, where people had an opportunity to speak one-on-one with those vying for their support.

"It's an essential part of our democratic mission as a public institution, as the library, as people's real public access to information and knowledge, that we're able to fill this function," said the library's CEO, Richard Togman.

"Regardless of political affiliation, orientation, whether you sit left, right, centre on the spectrum, everyone is welcome here at the library, and all of the candidates are welcome to deliver their message to the public and really engage one-on-one with people to decide what's important to them."

CBC News asked each candidate at Wednesday night's event to share concerns and issues they're hearing about the most from people in their ridings.

For Thunder Bay—Superior North's Liberal incumbent Patty Hajdu, it's "the need for stable, serious and experienced leadership during a time where we're seeing a fracturing with the United States, our closest trading partner."

"People really don't want a government that's divisive. They don't want leaders that are pitting us against each other. They want people that can see the promise and potential in all Canadians," she said.

Conservative candidate Bob Herman pointed to economic concerns, especially among younger generations.

"They're living pay cheque to pay cheque. They have good jobs — sometimes they have more than one job — but they just can't save enough money to buy a house, for example," Herman said. "They're tired of having all these taxes heaped up on them, and they're concerned about their future."

The riding's NDP candidate, Joy Wakefield, said U.S. president Donald Trump dominated much of the conversation at the start of the election, but now she's hearing more about housing, health care, infrastructure gaps and reconciliation.

"The environment has come up. I've heard about Gaza as well, and affordability is a big one that people are talking about, the cost of groceries, the cost of living," Wakefield said.

Amos Bradley of the People's Party of Canada said he's been talking a lot about job security and U.S. tariffs.

"They're thinking of their kids and what their kids are going to have in a couple years if the economy is going to continue to get worse," Bradley said.