Summerside Chamber scraps byelection debate, not all candidates able to take part
Kerry Campbell | CBC News | Posted: October 4, 2016 6:00 PM | Last Updated: October 4, 2016
Liberal candidate Chris Palmer says he’s 'very busy' going door-to-door
The Summerside Chamber of Commerce says it's been unable to organize a local debate among the four candidates running in the byelection for District 21 Summerside-Wilmot.
Chamber president Dan Kutcher said not all of the campaigns were able to participate, so the idea has been scrapped. For confidentiality reasons, he would not say which candidate or candidates were not available.
Three campaigns — the PC, Green and NDP campaigns — have said their candidates were available for a debate proposed by the Chamber and the Summerside Journal-Pioneer, to be held Tuesday, Oct. 11 at the Harbourfront Theatre.
Liberal candidate 'very busy' going door-to-door
When asked if he was available for the Chamber debate, Liberal candidate Chris Palmer said he was devoting all his time to campaigning door-to-door.
"I know I'm going around door-to-door every day talking to folks in the district, and that's kind of my job now. I do that every day, all day and it keeps me very busy," Palmer said.
Palmer's campaign did say the candidate will take part in a roundtable planned by CBC Radio on Oct. 13, in which all four candidates have agreed to participate to discuss important issues in the district live on Island Morning.
'Anytime or anywhere'
The campaigns for the three other candidates have all issued press releases saying some form of debate should take place.
"Residents deserve to be able to compare their choices — all their choices — and decide for themselves which candidate is offering what they are looking for," said Green candidate Lynne Lund.
"I feel the people of Summerside-Wilmot deserve to hear where the candidates stand on the issues," PC candidate Brian Ramsay said.
"I'm prepared to participate in the debate anytime or anywhere. The voters deserve no less."
In his release, NDP candidate Scott Gaudet said he would be participating in an online debate organized for the Thanksgiving weekend by the website goingon.ca.
A spokesperson for the website said two candidates had confirmed their availability, although the specific date and time for the event hadn't yet been settled.
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