Some area candidates would love to see their leaders accept a challenge by NDP leader Andrea Horwath, but haven’t heard anything official about a northern leaders’ debate yet.
Horwath, in Thunder Bay Thursday evening, said she has challenged both Liberal leader Dalton McGuinty and Progressive Conservative leader Tim Hudak to a debate on northern soil.
That echoes a request from the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association challenge last month asking the three leaders to attend a live debate on Northern issues in Thunder Bay Sept. 23.
Thunder Bay-Atikokan Liberal candidate Bill Mauro said while he hasn’t spoken to McGuinty on the issue, he hopes and even prays that the debate will happen. If McGuinty can’t make a Northern debate, Mauro has a request for his boss.
"I’ll ask the premier if maybe he’d let me pinch hit if Hudak and Horwath could make it up here," Mauro said Friday morning during a release of his party’s northern platform.
But if the debate doesn’t happen at all, the leaders will get a chance to face-off on Northern issues Sept. 27 during another debate he said.
"It’s my hope during that televised debate right across the province of Ontario that northern issues are part of that debate as well," Mauro said.
PC Thunder Bay-Superior North candidate Anthony LeBlanc said anytime there’s an opportunity for more debate he’s all for it but hasn’t heard anything from Hudak about a northern debate.
"I like a format whenever northern issues are brought to the forefront… I honestly haven’t heard anything in regards to if it’s even a potential," LeBlanc said. "I don’t know what the stance of Tim is. I think it will come down to scheduling."
LeBlanc said Hudak does plan on making a stop in Thunder Bay at some point during the campaign.
NOMA executive director Charla Robinson said while no candidate has confirmed for the Sept. 23 debate, she has been getting positive responses. The biggest challenge is convincing campaign organizers rather than the leaders that this would be an important event.
"We’re trying to find a way that makes it the most time efficient for them to get in and get out but still participate," Robinson said. "Fingers crossed I’m certainly getting good positive vibes."
The fact that the discussion is still ongoing shows that Northwestern Ontario is becoming a priority in the election Robinson said.
"Clearly the message is getting through that this is where the economic potential for the province is and they need to pay attention," Robinson said.
NOMA is hoping to make an announcement on the possibility of a northern debate early next week.
