NDP candidate Charlie Angus is criticizing John Curley's decision to pull out of tonight's debate to instead attend an event where rural leaders are expected to offer their endorsement of the Conservative candidate.
“This is a total blatant disrespect for the voters in Timmins. I’d like to know how you can ask for people to vote for you when you aren’t event willing to show up to talk to them. John Curley is clearly Stephen Harper’s man. He is not there for the people of the north," said Angus in a release issued this afternoon.
Curley informed debate organizers earlier this afternoon that he would not be attending the event, organized by the Daily Press.
The event, which takes place at 7 p.m. at Timmins High & Vocational School, in the William Dawson Auditorium, is a partnership between The Daily Press and other local media outlets CTV, Timmins Times, Eastlink, Q92/Kiss radio, The Moose FM and TimminsToday.
TimminsToday's Andrew Autio will take part in the panel.
Curley will instead attend a community rally hosted by Reeve Terry Fiset in Elk Lake. Six more community leaders are expect to offer Curley their support, says Curley's campaign team.
Angus said in his release that he has never heard of a candidate skipping a debate in Timmins.
“Unlike John Curley I’m not afraid to show up and defend my record. People know that I don’t take their trust lightly. I work hard and I show up. This is the kind of work ethic that people in the north expect.”
