Ron Irwin and Ken Walker decided to take up mud wrestling at Algoma University College last night.
The all candidates debate on Aboriginal Issues at Algoma University College strayed into a mud slinging fest when Irwin started tossing comments in during Walker's time to answer questions and they verbally mixed it up.
Irwin, a former Liberal Indian Affairs Minister, was at the debate on behalf of Christian Provinzano who had prior commitments on St. Joseph's Island.
Also participating in the debate was the incumbent NDP representative Tony Martin, as well as First Peoples National Party of Canada representative Guy Dumas, Green Party representative Mark Vitala, and Mike Tepporel.
Walker was answering an audience member's question about the Indian Act and when Irwin interjected his dissent for Walker's take on history.
Walker said that the Conservatives would be looking for a partnership with First Nations people.
He said that the Liberal party has done nothing for the First Nations people in the past 13 year and would do nothing if re-elected.
"I think your idea of history is a little off," said Irwin from his seat beside the podium Walker was standing at.
Walker responded with citations of Conservative initiatives he said supported First Nations' push toward self-government and Irwin countered that Conservatives have always voted against such bills when they were tabled by other parties.
The argument escalated until Walker lost track of his planned speach and paused to gather his thoughts.
"You've thrown me off," he said with a laugh. "You see I had only expected to be confronted with one seasoned politician, not two."
"I was expecting Christian to be here instead of you, sir," he said. "I bet Christian would have answered these questions a bit differently."
Next up was First People's National Party candidate Guy Dumas.
"You see," he said with a broad gesture toward Irwin and Walker. "The Liberals and Conservatives are always busy fighting among themselves and keep forgetting about us."
Dumas got a laugh and continued with his answer to the question of what to do with the Indian Act.
"That document continues to make slaves of us all," he said. "If I were in Parliament, I would pass around the pages of that document and everyone would have a good time tearing them up."
He said that the Indian Act prevented his people from taking advantage of economic opportunities by making it impossible for them to acquire any equity.
"I once tried to use my cousin for equity," he quipped. "But they said he wasn't worth anything."
"I think I only have one relative that's worth about $50,000," said Dumas. "How can we grow our economy if we can't get any equity?"
Martin also agreed that the Indian Act was a document that didn't provide adequate opportunity for First Nations people to develop their own economies or grow as a nation.
In his closing comments, Dumas also acknowledged NDP support of Aboriginal issues but said it was time to elect some Aboriginal representatives to assure positive change will happen and First Nations People's rights will be protected.