The Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation, the economy and doctor shortages were among the topics of conversation at a debate between Nickel Belt candidates on CIGM radio Tuesday evening.
New Democrat candidate Claude Gravelle, Conservative candidate Ian McCracken and Green candidate Fred Twilley answered questions from a media panel.
Liberal candidate Louise Portelance declined to participate in the debate because of an incident which cancelled the Sudbury riding CIGM debate Monday evening.
Gravelle and McCracken sharply criticized Portelance for not participating, saying it was a reflection of her lack of respect for Nickel Belt voters.
The Sudbury riding debate was cancelled after Will Morin, First Nations Peoples Party candidate, showed up at the radio station even though he wasn't invited to participate.
“The other candidates and myself stood with Will outside the station as we waited on a decision from the station manager. When the manager declined to invite Morin inside we decided to cancel out ourselves,” said Sudbury Green candidate Gord Harris, who was present.
Morin has participated in a number of all-candidates debates, including one organized by the Chamber of Commerce at Tom Davies Square and another organized at Days Inn by the Social Planning Council.
A news release from Rogers Radio general manager Rick Doughty said the debate was cancelled because the candidates declined to participate.
“The radio station had set up the debate with the representatives, whom agreed to the format, from the four national parties as we have done in the past, but the candidates declined to participate at the last minute and therefore the debate was cancelled,” said the release.
Police arrived when Morin stood outside the CIGM building, said Harris.
“Calling police was uncalled for, since Will was in the parking lot and not inside the building.”
-With files from Bill Bradley and Heidi Ulrichsen
