The election candidates in the Kamloops Thompson Cariboo are officially on the campaign trail this morning as the writ was dropped this morning.

NL News has reached out to the candidates running to be our next MP asking them their thoughts on Day One.

Conservative candidate Cathy McLeod says her team has been ready for quite some time now to challenge the Liberals and their record.

“You know I think that should be very concerning to all Canadians and I am surprised that [Justin Trudeau] officially started it today which of course is a very solemn day, it’s 9/11,” she said. “I would have thought perhaps tomorrow or yesterday perhaps would have been a better choice because many people see this as a very reflective day.”

Liberal Candidate Terry Lake says it’s good to finally get the campaign underway.

“Great to be in the regular season after training camp. Really once the writ is dropped, it’s all hands on deck. The public is engaged and it makes it more fun, more interactive, and more substantial. So I’m really looking forward.

The Green Party’s Ian Currie too says it’s good to be officially underway.

“We hit the ground running sometime ago but it’s nice to have the writ actually there, so we can tell voters that we are officially on the campaign trail.”

The People’s Party of Canada’s Ken Finlayson noted it’s a relief that the campaign is officially a go.

“We can’t get rid of this Prime Minister soon enough. It’s a relief that he’s finally called it. I think everybody is on the campaign trail and it’s time to get ‘er done, and get ‘er over with.”

And the Animal Protection Party of Canada’s Kira Cheeseborough says she’s grateful for the opportunity to run.

“To advocate and speak for the needs of those that have been ignored or unheard as well as recognizing and trying to uphold the rights of other citizens in Canada as well.”

The Community Party’s Peter Kerek says the writ dropping today was a formality, and not a big surprised because of fixed election laws.

“The Communist Party members are active regularly trying to improve the lot of working people,” Kerek said. “The fact that the writ dropped today, yesterday or two weeks ago, doesn’t change a whole lot in the way we approach our politics.”

As for the biggest issue facing this riding?

“One of course the Trans Mountain pipeline. We need to get the Trans Mountain pipeline built. I’m a 100 per cent behind it, and I think we need to insure opportunities for First Nations within that pipeline,” said McLeod. “I think the second thing, and there has been complete neglect by the current government, is the forestry crisis.”

Lake too says the Forestry crisis is an issue, saying the Feds can help out.

“We know towns like Clearwater and 100 Mile House are suffering because of the downturn so what can we do to diversify the economies,” he noted. “And then in cities like Kamloops, we were promised the acceleration of the Trans Canada Highway project. That hasn’t happened, so I think we need some pressure from the Federal Government there.”

As for Iain Currie, he says we need to make the transition to a post-Carbon economy.

“We know the economy has to change. It has to change because of climate change,” he told NL. “It has to change because of automation and we need to start making the transition now as opposed to waiting until it’s politically expedient.”

Meanwhile, Ken Finlayson too noted that forestry is the big issue locally.

“Many people involved in the forest industry are suffering, and it’s just the beginning. We have this perfect storm forming where not only is the price half of what it used to be, the supply is diminished.”

And Cheeseborough too noted that action has to be taken against climate change.

“Particularly when it comes around animal agriculture,” she said. “I think it’s important that we should talk about this and the impacts that animal agriculture actually has on the environment. In comparison to say driving a car or plastic straws, it impacts every single aspect of the environment.”

Kerek meanwhile thinks affordability and student debts are a big issue locally.

“It’s also holding back people who want to pursue careers that they would rather have, rather than being stuck in positions where they are kind of treading away at being overburdened with that student debt,” he added. “On top of that, environmental concerns are important in getting us off the oil dependencies and moving us to renewable energy, and resolving the unfair tax system that sees the billionaires continue to accumulate billions while everyone else mires in the doldrums of the stagnant working class economy.”

The NDP are currently without a candidate after Dock Currie announced he’s stepping down, due to “problematic” social media comments he made two years ago.

Listen to the interview with each candidate below: