On Thursday evening at Timmins High & Vocational School, the candidates of Timmins-James Bay participated in their final debate of the lengthy campaign, with a noticeable exception.
Conservative candidate John Curley backed out of his participation in the event with a statement released to the media at approximately 2 p.m., five hours before the debate began.
The other three candidates, NDP incumbent Charlie Angus, Liberal candidate Todd Lever and the Green Party's Max Kennedy all participated.
After the debate ended, TimminsToday gathered reactions from the candidates.
Charlie Angus on Curley's absence
“In all the years that I've been involved in politics in the Timmins area, I've never seen someone tell people 'Hey I'm not showing up to defend myself.'
I think its very disrespectful of Mr. Curley. It sends a message that he doesn't need to defend himself.
I'm very surprised that Mr. Curley, a man who I like and respected as a city councillor, would take this attitude. It's very much showing that he's more Stephen Harper's man than someone representing Timmins. It sends a really bad message.”
Todd Lever on Curley's absence
“It's disappointing for a number of reasons. Stephen Harper did the same thing at the national level, where he deprived Canadians the right to see all the leaders on the national stage at one time.
Its fundamentally undemocratic, especially when you've been in power for a decade.
We know that there's been a directive issued to Conservative candidates to avoid debates and media questions.
To be fair, Mr. Curley has shown up to a number of other debates in other communities. He didn't show up tonight. It's disappointing. I think its reflective of a Stephen Harper approach to government and ignoring Canadians.”
Max Kennedy on the debate
“It actually went rather well. I was able to bring up a lot the issues that the Green Party holds dear.
I was able to get alternative viewpoints out there, and I think I was able to show that the Green Party would actually be most representative of most Canadians, even though most Canadians think of us as the fourth party.”
Charlie Angus on the debate
“Debates are about ideas. They get spirited. Sometimes they get testy. Sometimes you lose your cool, that's all part of it.
I don't know what Mr. Curley was afraid of? He's been a longtime Timmins city councillor, he's a likeable guy.
You show up. You defend your record. You don't skip town. Because if you do that, it shows that you don't have a respect for the overall democratic process or the voters of the region.
I thought tonight's debate was good, it was spirited, and at the end of the day we leave it in the hands of the voters because the voter is always right."
Todd Lever on the debate
“I enjoyed it. Actually, I wish it could have been a bit longer. We could have gotten into some meatier issues and get our various parties responses on them, but I was happy.
It would have been nice to see some more people turn up, but I think we're starting to see some election fatigue and most people want to get it over with.
I hope people at least understood the various positions of the parties and I think that came out for the most part.”
Max Kennedy on if his campaign has gained momentum
“Lately, I've been getting a lot more people saying 'Yes, we're going to vote Green this time around' because it will send a message to the other parties that we do actually have an alternative. We're not stuck with them, and if they don't hold up their end of the bargain, there is somewhere else to go.
Whether or not the numbers have improved overall for the entire region, I couldn't tell you, but the personal response has certainly improved.”
Monday, October 19 is Federal Election Day.
