Peggy Revell
They may have differing viewpoints on the issues but after last night’s all-candidates’ forum at the Civic Centre, there’s one thing all four agree upon: how disappointing it was that Shaw Cable (Channel 10) failed to cover it.
“Shaw’s lack of availability for this is nothing short of shameful,” fumed Liberal incumbent MP Ken Boshcoff following the two-hour sesssion where the candidates fielded questions before a small crowd.
“I’m very disappointed in Shaw, and I’ll be very disappointed in Shaw tomorrow night [Wednesday] in Atikokan, too,” said NDP candidate John Rafferty.
While Shaw has aired local debates in the past, only the one in Thunder Bay next week is being televised this time around.
This lack of coverage affects a lot of voters who would like to see the debate, Rafferty said, particularly older ones who may be housebound or unable to get out on certain nights, as well as people with other commitments.
Green Party candidate Russ Aegard said he was surprised when he learned of the lack of TV coverage, which he added ties in to how the current electoral system already limits people’s involvement.
“It’s almost like a slap in the face to little communities because it’s the whole thing again: Thunder Bay is important but the rest of Northwestern Ontario isn’t,” Aegard said.
He suggested government agencies like FedNor should look into ensuring smaller communities get the local coverage they need.
“This is kind of a shame since it really limits the exposure that candidates can get in the public,” Aegard added.
“[No coverage] is very upsetting in such a large riding, when it’s so difficult for candidates themselves to get everywhere and to get to every corner of the riding,” echoed Conservative candidate Richard Neumann.
As the one new name on the ballot (Boshcoff, Rafferty, and Aegard all ran in the 2006 election), Neumann said it’s important that people get the opportunity to see him—something that televised debates help with.
“We should have had Shaw here, and that debate should have been replayed because it’s important for people to know about the issues,” he stressed.
“My fear is that a lot of people had no idea, and now they’re going to be looking for an opportunity as we get closer to the election date to make a decision,” Neumann continued. “They’re going to want some hard facts to base that decision on and we don’t have a video of this debate to show.
“It’s very unfortunate that things have worked out in this particular way.”
