SYDNEY, Nova Scotia — Liberal candidate Mark Eyking says his party would work with the NDP — if it means getting rid of Conservative Leader Stephen Harper.

“We’ll work with anybody to get rid of Mr. Harper. We’ll work with anybody to get things done for Cape Breton,” said Eyking through an eruption of applause at a raucous all-candidates’ debate Thursday night in Sydney, organized by the CBC.

Eyking, the incumbent, seemed energized by the crowd; about 350 people were in attendance and a large number of them were wearing red.

The Liberals in the crowd may have been responsible for occasional catcalls of “you’re lying” and “bullshit” aimed at Conservative candidate John Douglas Chiasson.

Eyking’s comments about working with the NDP were prompted by a comment from NDP candidate Monika Dutt, who said the NDP has committed to working with the Liberal party to form a coalition in the event of a minority government.

Debate moderator Steven Sullivan asked Eyking if he would be open to a forming a coalition with the NDP.

“Right now, Mr. Trudeau’s looking at forming the next government, and we will work with the NDP,” he said.

The debate around NDP and Liberal cooperation was prompted by a question from an audience member who said that Cape Breton wants a change in government, and that he’s tired of seeing the Liberals and the NDP attack each other. Chiasson had the challenge of commenting on whether the Conservative party would work with other parties.

“I think that we have a proven record as the Conservative party and Prime Minister Harper has a proven record,” said Chiasson, over interruptions from the raucous crowd.

“His budgets were supported by NDP parties, by Liberal parties. The Conservative party worked with other parties for five years, the longest minority government in, I think, 40 years. So our record on working with other parties is very clear.

“I think what Mark said and Monika on decorum in the House of Commons is certainly true and I think that the Speaker should crack down much, more harshly on people … who call people exploitive words in the House of Commons, like Justin Trudeau did.”

The candidates also discussed poverty, their goals, support for hunters and anglers and the controversial Mother Canada statue.

Following the debate, spectators argued about who won and whether any of the candidates managed to change anyone’s mind.

“Well I’ll tell ya, nothing’s changed my mind about who I’m supporting, I can tell you that right now. I listen to a lot of lies coming out of the Conservative,” said Fred Kanne. “I’m a veteran and I have … never mind, you know the way I feel about (the Conservatives).”

Irvin Williams said it was a good debate but asked why “the buck stops at the causeway.”

“We’ve got the highest tax, highest gas prices, we’ve got the highest food prices, we’ve got seniors who are hardly making it, but it seems no one’s paying attention. That concerns me,” he said.

Conservative supporter Thomas Bethell argued that Chiasson can take the riding that’s been held by Eyking for 15 years if he shows voters “that the Liberal hasn’t done anything in the past 15 years.”