Jim Jones, also running for re-election to regional council, assured everyone in the audience, “I absolutely don’t smoke, never have smoked and don’t endorse marijuana.”

“I can’t stand marijuana smoke but that doesn’t mean my wants and needs should infringe upon another person’s wants and needs," regional council hopeful Ray Lai said. "Everybody in this city matters and we cannot paint in broad strokes.”

Police officer Niran Jeyanesan, running for regional council, says he’s concerned about the impact of pot.

“Smoking marijuana is not like smoking cigarettes," he said. "You are impaired once you’ve smoked marijuana. Your ability to work, your ability to drive, your ability to walk is affected.”

Jeff Leung, seeking election to regional councillor, simply said he wants to represent the will of his constituents.

“We should listen to our residents and fight for them.”

And Aaron Madar, also looking to get elected to regional council, said: “I definitely believe in making it safe. We have to work together.”

Regional council hopeful Peter Pavlovic seemed to take a live and let live attitude toward marijuana legalization.

“I don’t smoke, I’m not a big supporter of it, as long as it doesn’t impede on our rights, I’m OK with it.”

And Jack Heath, seeking re-election to regional council, said he pushed long and hard for the smoking bylaw and sees some similarities with smoking marijuana.

“I’ve already spoken about how much I am not in favour of the sale of cannabis in retail stores on the streets of Markham anywhere and I can also say one thing, way back, 15 years ago, I was the guy behind the no-smoking bylaw in Markham," he said. "We introduced it here, some of that bylaw is in the provincial regulations. We own the public property, significant, we can take that next step. I don’t want to have kids in our community, I don’t want drivers in our roads smoking marijuana."

Mayoral hopeful Jawed Syed was clear where he stood.

“I don’t support it. I want Markham to be marijuana-free.”

And finally, mayoral candidate Abdul Rahman Malik said: “I have never smoked marijuana, I am not in favour of it being legalized, but it is legalized. We’re in this new world, what we need to do is control, people who want to smoke, let them smoke.”

The candidates also dealt with questions involving business promotion in Markham and affordable housing among other issues.

Advance voting begins on Oct. 12. Election day is Monday, Oct. 22.