The leader of the provincial Liberal party says he can’t participate in a northern leaders debate on Sept. 23 because of a scheduling conflict.
Dalton McGuinty said he initially received an invitation for the debate hosted by the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association in early August.
“We responded in the middle of August saying that date would not work for us,” he said Thursday morning after touring Thunder Bay’s Bombardier plant. “We never received alternate dates, so I’m very much looking forward to talking about northern issues in our province-wide debate. I look forward to debating those of course with my opposition.”
Last week NDP leader Andrea Horwath challenged McGuinty and Progressive Conservative leader Tim Hudak to a northern debate. Hudak accepted the challenge Wednesday leaving McGuinty the last to reply.
Wednesday evening, the PCs issued a release stating they would foot the bill for McGuinty to participate in the debate via video conference from Toronto.
“During the last eight years Dalton McGuinty has shown how out of touch he is with Northern Ontario. His refusal to attend the northern leaders’ debate just shows that it is time for change,” said Thunder Bay-Atikokan PC candidate Fred Gilbert in the release.
The debate will cover topics from the Ring of Fire to energy costs.
For McGuinty, the Ring of Fire is filled with promise and opportunity, but the challenge to move that development forward is building the necessary infrastructure.
“That’s the kind of problem I like to have,” he said. “How do we make sure we have the necessary, whether it’s rails or roads or electricity? I think those are great kinds of challenges to have.”
In his remarks at Bombardier, McGuinty commented on his announcement of expanding GO train service from Monday. The plan will require up to 500 more bi-level cars to be produced at the Thunder Bay plant.
Dalton McGuinty said he initially received an invitation for the debate hosted by the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association in early August.
“We responded in the middle of August saying that date would not work for us,” he said Thursday morning after touring Thunder Bay’s Bombardier plant. “We never received alternate dates, so I’m very much looking forward to talking about northern issues in our province-wide debate. I look forward to debating those of course with my opposition.”
Last week NDP leader Andrea Horwath challenged McGuinty and Progressive Conservative leader Tim Hudak to a northern debate. Hudak accepted the challenge Wednesday leaving McGuinty the last to reply.
Wednesday evening, the PCs issued a release stating they would foot the bill for McGuinty to participate in the debate via video conference from Toronto.
“During the last eight years Dalton McGuinty has shown how out of touch he is with Northern Ontario. His refusal to attend the northern leaders’ debate just shows that it is time for change,” said Thunder Bay-Atikokan PC candidate Fred Gilbert in the release.
The debate will cover topics from the Ring of Fire to energy costs.
For McGuinty, the Ring of Fire is filled with promise and opportunity, but the challenge to move that development forward is building the necessary infrastructure.
“That’s the kind of problem I like to have,” he said. “How do we make sure we have the necessary, whether it’s rails or roads or electricity? I think those are great kinds of challenges to have.”
In his remarks at Bombardier, McGuinty commented on his announcement of expanding GO train service from Monday. The plan will require up to 500 more bi-level cars to be produced at the Thunder Bay plant.
