Banff-Airdrie Conservative MP Blake Richards is the latest in a long list of Conservatives trying to dodge or dictate the terms of all-candidates debates.
Richards’ campaign office has indicated the incumbent MP won’t attend a Canmore election forum on Sept. 29 due to his schedule. He has also not confirmed his attendance for a Banff forum on Oct. 15.
NDP candidate Joanne Boissonneault, the Liberal Party’s Marlo Raynolds and Green Party candidate Mike MacDonald have all confirmed their attendance at both forums in the lead-up to the Oct. 19 federal election.
Handlers in Richards’ office indicated he only wants to attend one forum in the Bow Valley. While the Banff date works for Richards, his campaign has indicated he is unhappy with the forum’s format, which includes an open mic and question period.
Organizers of both forums – which include business groups in both Banff and Canmore – say the election forums will go ahead regardless of whether Richards is there or not.
“Frankly, I’m confused why Mr. Richards hasn’t whole-heartedly embraced the invitation,” said Darren Reeder, executive director of the Banff Lake Louise Hotel Motel Association (BLLHMA), one of the organizers of the Banff forum.
“Forums are a great opportunity to appeal to a wide range of people in a short period of time. We want Mr. Richards to be there and the people who voted him in want him there.”
The Association for Mountain Parks Protection and Enjoyment (AMPPE) is joining BLLHMA in hosting the Banff forum, while the Bow Valley Builders & Developers Association (BOWDA) is hosting the Canmore forum.
Media across the country have been reporting that Conservatives running in the Oct. 19 federal election have been advised not to attend all-candidate meetings or speak to reporters during the campaign.
Richards’ campaign office did not return calls by press time.
However, in emails sent to Airdrie City View sister paper, the Rocky Mountain Outlook as a partner in the forums, Richard’s campaign team indicated Richards only wanted to attend three forums given the size of the Banff-Airdrie constituency – one in the Bow Valley, one in Airdrie on Oct. 8 and one in Cochrane Oct. 9.
Alyson Robb, a Richards campaign team member, said there are concerns about the format of the Banff forum, notably the unstructured portion of the debate.
“We believe the format as outlined would not be conducive to a productive and collegial exchange of ideas,” she said.
In another email from Richards’ campaign office, Rachel Wenger said his office was awaiting confirmation on the format of the Banff forum and that their requested changes are being addressed.
“Mr. Richards’ participation is subject to agreement on format and inclusion of the Canmore organizers,” wrote Wenger.
Reeder said that in all the years BLLHMA has hosted election forums, the same format has always been maintained.
He said the forum will be professionally moderated and includes candidate introductions, followed by a series of structured questions on issues affecting the Banff community. Next will be an open mic and question period, followed by the candidates’ closing remarks.
“This has never been an issue with past candidates in making their decision to participate, nor have we ever received any negative comments about the format after the fact,” Reeder said.
“The assurance we’ve given Mr. Richards is there’s no room for personal attacks, but no candidates should be shielded from receiving legitimate questions about policies, platforms and objectives.”
Ron Remple, executive director of BOWDA, said the Canmore forum is going ahead with or without Richards.
Remple said previous forums for municipal and provincial elections have been well attended. More than 150 people showed up for an all-candidates forum for the provincial election in April.
“It’s a good opportunity, in my opinion, for candidates to get in front of local people and for locals to better understand what the issues are and who the candidates are,” he said.
