Challenge accepted

Progressive Conservative leader Tim Hudak has agreed to a northern debate in Thunder Bay, leaving Dalton McGuinty as the only leader not to RSVP.

Anthony LeBlanc, PC candidate for Thunder Bay – Superior North, announced at a media conference Wednesday that the PC leader will participate in a northern debate at the Valhalla Inn next Friday.

NDP leader Andrea Horwath challenged both Hudak and McGuinty to a debate about Northern Ontario issues, which would be held in the north, when she visited the city last week.

The challenge echoed a request from the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association last month, which asked the three leaders to attend a live debate on Northern issues.

LeBlanc said Hudak has accepted the challenge and would participate in the debate with Horwath even if McGuinty refuses.

“We certainly hope (McGuinty) shows the respect to the north that northerns deserve and be here next Friday for the leaders’ debate,” LeBlanc said. “I think any time a leader of a major party comes to the north to talk to about the north is an important event. I think what it will do is illustrate the leaders that cares about the north.”

Liberal incumbent Michael Gravelle confirmed with tbnewswatch.com that McGuinty would not be attending the Friday’s debate. He added that McGuinty’s campaign team has asked to dedicate a portion of the leaders’ debate on Sept. 27 to issues that are specific to Northern Ontario.

“That will be the opportunity the premier is looking forward in order to discuss all issues that are important to all of Ontario,” Gravelle said. “I know the premier responded (to Hudak’s announcement) to some degree this morning. He made it very clear that the north is absolutely a priority for our party. As (McGuinty) pointed out the scheduling is very difficult and he wants to very much have every Northern Ontarian to see the debate on Sept. 27.”

NDP candidate Steve Mantis said it was good news to know that another party leader was coming to debate northern issues.  He said having Horwath be the first to come forward with the invitation showed that the NDP was committed to the north.

NOMA executive director Charla Robinson said the topics for the debate would cover everything that impacts the north from the Ring of Fire to energy costs. While there is no deadline for McGuinty to change his mind, she said if he decides to change his mind, he has the opportunity to.

“We certainly want to give him every opportunity to change his mind but that will be up to the organizing group and we`ll be meeting this afternoon,” Robinson said. “We’re quite pleased that Hudak and Horwath have committed to be here. We know it is a time commitment for them and we certainly appreciate the effort to get here.”

Robinson said they were just starting to work on the format on how the debate will be held but did add there wouldn’t be any questions from the audience.

The hour-long debate will be held on Sept. 23 at 11 a.m. at the Valhalla Inn.