Getting Yukon College students on and off its main campus and into the Canada Games Centre were among the major topics that worked their way into a municipal all-candidates' forum early Tuesday afternoon.

The forum, hosted by the college's students' union, saw 11 of the 12 councillor candidates and one of the two mayoral candidates say where they stood on everything from garbage to catching a bus in town.

Mayoral candidate Al Fedoriak explained later Tuesday afternoon he had misread the date for the forum and thought it was set for today.

Michael Buurman, the councillor candidate who was absent, had informed the students' union earlier he wouldn't be there due to work commitments.

"I would have a really hard time (deciding who to vote for),” student union president Kyle Horvath, who led the forum, said in an interview following the session.

Originally from Ontario, Horvath isn't able to vote in this election, but said there were a lot of good answers to the questions from each of the candidates there. He started with the question on the environment.

A bleak global outlook by many candidates was countered by a more positive local outlook on the issue.

"We're doing our part,” incumbent Coun. Dave Stockdale said after referring to the global environmental situation as a "ticking time bomb”.

He, along with the other five incumbents seeking re-election, as well first-time candidates like Betty Irwin and Jan Brault, defended the city's actions on the environmental front.

Among those were the city's composting program for residential garbage pick-up, its sustainability plan, and continued work on a greenspace plan.

More could be done though, it was agreed by many, with incumbent Coun. Doug Graham suggesting the compost program be expanded to the commercial waste sector.

First time candidates Skeeter Miller-Wright and Jan Brault were the only ones to throw their full support behind the blue box program proposed by the Raven Recycling Society. Behind the row of candidates seated at the forum were 500 blue box cards bearing signatures of those who support the move.

Miller-Wright argued the program could be incorporated into the city's current garbage and compost pick-up system. Others argued there were other factors to consider, ranging from the additional costs to Raven's capacity to take on more recycling.

Discussion on the environmental front also saw a number of candidates point to the transit system, with Horvath later moving on to ask each of them what they would alter to make it more effective.

Again, many pointed to the issue of cost to make changes to the system. While the city is already looking at a system overhaul that would see 20-minute connections in some cases, that will come with a price.

Coun. Jeanine Myhre used the forum as an example of the challenge presented to users in travelling by bus.

Unlike Graham Lang, who noted he hopped on the bus to get to the forum, Myhre didn't use the transit system because for her, it would have meant leaving work at 10:45 a.m. to get to the college on the bus that would arrive closest to noon.

She would then have to wait until 1:43 p.m. to get the bus downtown following the forum that would bring her back to work for 2 p.m.

"It's our schedule, and that's going to cost money to fix,” she said.

Lang stressed the need for a good bus system for the college. The local lawyer spent his university years travelling by transit and believes buses are an integral part of post-secondary school settings.

He would like the city and college to work together on a program that would see the school have better bus service. Each student could receive a year-long bus pass that would be paid for as part of the students' annual fees through the college, he said.

"Graham Lang – friend of transit,” he said, continuing to remind the crowd of his name throughout the session.

Similar to his proposal for the buses, Lang also suggested something similar could happen for the Canada Games Centre.

"Let's partner together,” he said.

That's something the students' union is already working on, with Horvath currently collecting signatures at the school from students interested in some sort of program between the college and Canada Games Centre.

Following the forum, Horvath stressed the initiative isn't a petition, but rather more of a show of interest to see if there's enough to move ahead with a meeting with staff from the recreational complex.

During the forum, he questioned what candidates would do to assist students who want to take advantage of the centre, but find the prices too high.

Many suggested Horvath continue his efforts in talking to the city to negotiate a discounted group price.

"This discussion is actually happening,” said Mayor Bev Buckway.

Miller-Wright also suggested that a student rate be established at the centre as well.

First-time candidate Ron Swizdaryk agreed with Lang's proposal of including fees for the Canada Games Centre in the student fees at the college.

Candidate Ranj Pillai said the city should seek more funds from the Yukon government, which would make more cash available to operate the centre.

As the session wrapped up, each of the candidates encouraged voters to make sure they cast their ballots Thursday.

The forum is likely the last all-candidates' session prior to tomorrow's vote.