PC candidates missing debates 'not healthy for democracy,' says advocate
CBC
In what appears to be a continuing trend since Doug Ford first took the reins of Progressive Conservative party in 2018, several PC candidates have skipped local debates in their regions throughout the snap election campaign that began nearly a month ago.
The trend is one that John Beebe, director of the Democratic Engagement Exchange at Toronto Metropolitan University, said is "not healthy for democracy" as many in the province already demonstrate an apathy toward voting, after the 2022 election saw a record low for voter turnout in Ontario.
He said candidates are instead choosing to send out targeted messages through social media or paid advertising.
"But it's those more informal back and forth takes that are critical to the health of our democracy," Beebe said. "It's particularly important for first [time] and infrequent voters who haven't already made up their minds to hear from candidates directly."
Hamilton PC candidates Sarah Bokhari, Monica Ciriello, Neil Lumsden (minister of sport at the time of the election call) and John Demick did not attend local debates organized by Cable 14.
In Walkerton, Ont., where hundreds of people lined up in the cold for a family doctor earlier this year, candidates from the three other major parties agreed to a debate on health care but the incumbent PC Lisa Thompson couldn't make it. And in the adjacent Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound riding, PC candidate Paul Vickers missed an all-candidates meeting held by a local health coalition.
Thompson told CBC London she got the invite after already committing to other events, Vickers didn't explain why he missed the meeting but pledge to work on healthcare if elected.
CBC Toronto contacted the PCs asking if the party could reach out to each of the Hamilton candidates to see if they would explain their absences. A spokesperson responded minutes later saying candidates are out talking to voters everyday.
While CBC has also reported on other absentee candidates the northern part of the province, some candidates have taken part in their local debates. Graydon Smith, the former minister of natural resources and forestry, took part in a debate organized by YourTV Muskoka, while Vic Fedeli, took part in a debate in Nipissing organized by Cogeco.
Ford has said on the campaign trail that some candidates are doing debates and some aren't. Meanwhile, the PC leader himself has attended two debates with his fellow major party leaders.
"But we're out there in the media every single day," he said. "Getting out there, speaking and talking to the people, meeting the people. And that's the most important thing."
Peter Graefe, an associate professor of political science at McMaster University, said debates can pose a risk to candidates and campaigns.
"If you are really rude to someone at the door, that's one person who hears it," he said. "If you really show yourself to be inept in a debate, not only are people watching it, but it can be clipped and shown and reported on in a way that could be much more damaging."
He added that while there's something about a debate that's fundamental to democratic choice, from a political strategy perspective the PC explanation has some logic.
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