Elections are supposed to be the most democratic of events, when each person has one vote, when anyone, regardless of income and social status, has an equal right to choose who will represent our riding and thereby which party will lead our country.
All-candidates debates are important parts of any election campaign, as they are one of the rare times when voters can actually ask questions of the candidates, listen to them speak live and watch how they interact with others. All the glossy brochures and ads do not provide the same information that time in a room with a person can tell us.
It’s a shame, then, that the only all-candidates debate held in Squamish for the federal election campaign was an elitist event. It was organized and advertised by the Squamish Chamber of Commerce as a luncheon at a cost of $27 per person. The chamber permitted non-paying people to attend but did not advertise this fact well. And really, who wants to be the only adult in the room not eating the lunch? It’s awkward and embarrassing. The debate was videoed, but those who watch the video can’t ask questions or actually meet the candidates.
The event was held at Quest University, located at the top of a steep hill. If you’re disabled or have any physical challenges, parking in the lot and walking the steep climb to the university is challenging.
The worst part of the event was the timing; it was held on a Tuesday for several hours in the early afternoon, exactly when most of the population is at work. Only people who happened to have the day off or who are self-employed and in control of their schedule could easily get to the event; the others all had to go to work. Across the country, most all-candidates debates start at approximately 7 p.m.
Now, a Squamish woman, Debbie Forsyth, is trying to organize a more inclusive all-candidates debate on Oct. 15 in the evening and is having trouble getting candidates to commit. To be fair, it’s a large riding and Squamish is but one part of it, and there were only three weeks left in the campaign when she contacted the four. Only one candidate said he would attend: Ken Melamed of the Green Party. Liberal Pam Goldsmith-Jones’ staff said she might come, while Conservative incumbent John Weston and NDP’s Larry Koopman said their schedules are full.
Sadly, this means most residents won’t have a chance to talk to the candidates before going to the polls Oct. 19.
– Editor Christine Endicott
