Despite the absence of Vancouver Island North Conservative MP John Duncan and two other candidates, the show went on before a packed house at an all-candidates forum Wednesday at North Island College in Courtenay.Three of the candidates trying to oust Duncan from his riding when Canadians go to the polls May 2 — Mike Holland (Liberal), Ronna-Rae Leonard (NDP) and Sue Moen (Green) — at times voiced similar answers to moderated questions based on core values of peace, order, good government and respect for diversity.Independent Jason Draper was not recognized by forum organizers and Frank Martin (Marxist-Leninist) did not attend.Although he speaks with pride about the military, Holland said Canada has a proud history of not often going to war."It should be something done hesitantly," he said, noting the Tories' "ridiculous" $30-billion plan to purchase 65 fighter jets. Even one plane worth $400 million would pay for a hospital, Holland said. "Our priorities are not jets and not jails," Holland said. "Our priorities are for people's families."Moen said the Green Party believes diplomacy is the first answer. It would trim the military budget, withdraw troops from Afghanistan and look at why Canadian soldiers would need to set foot in Libya. "We need to be clear why we are there and how long we are there," she said. The NDP would also withdraw troops from Afghanistan but would maintain the military budget."Canadian troops have a strong tradition of support and to not impose a moral code," Leonard said. In terms of curbing crime, the Greens advocate restorative justice programs, and correctional services that focus on rehabilitation and gradual re-integration into society. It also advocates a toughened stance on organized crime, added Moen, who suggests tax dollars from the legalization of soft drugs could be spent on the aforementioned programs. The NDP wants to invest more money into crime prevention initiatives and to beef up police forces, while the Liberals do not advocate a $13-million prison expansion program, as proposed by the federal Conservatives. Candidates also fielded questions about a national water policy, pensions (the Canadian Association of Retired Persons has advocated a universal pension plan), a dedicated post-secondary education transfer, and a Post-Secondary Education Act to ensure fair and equal access for college and university students."The real culprit is not the Act, it's the money," said Holland, noting Tory cuts to education. The Greens would increase grants and bursaries, and earmark post-secondary transfers. "We do support lifelong learning," Moen said, noting the importance of becoming an information-based society.Leonard said the NDP proposes an $800-million transfer to provinces and territories to help decrease tuition costs. The party has also promised to double the Canada Pension Plan to ensure comfort and to lift people from poverty levels in their senior years. The Liberals advocate a gradual increase to CPP and the Old Age Pension to ensure comfortable retirements, Holland said, noting the party's plan to create a voluntary CPP.The Green Party, which considers RRSPs as being "inefficient," would increase pension benefits up to 50 per cent, Moen said.None of the candidates spoke in favour of scrapping the gun registry, in response to a question from an audience member.The forum was co-hosted by the North Island Students' Union, North Island Elder College and the Council of Canadians. Though he was "unable to attend" Wednesday, Duncan's office said he has committed to eight all-candidate meetings in the Vancouver Island North riding, including those hosted by Mark Isfeld Secondary School, and the Cumberland and Courtenay chambers of commerce.Duncan was criticized in the previous federal election for not attending every all-candidate forum. reporter@comoxvalleyrecord.com