THUNDER BAY — The Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce along with a number of partners, is planning to hold an all-candidates community forum a week ahead of Ontario’s election day.
All elected candidates have been invited to participate, though it is unlikely all will attend.
Conservative candidates Rick Dumas and Kevin Holland, the incumbent in Thunder Bay–Atikokan, are not expected to participate. Candidates have reportedly been told by PC party officials not to take part in local debates or candidate forums, and have declined an offer to take part in a Thunder Bay Television issues and answers session.
The Green Party's John Northey, running in Thunder Bay-Superior North, has declined all interview requests.
The forum is open to the public, with questions posed to the candidates by a panel of event partner representatives, a group that includes the Anishnawbe Business Professional Association, Aguasabon Chamber of Commerce, Thunder Bay and District Labour Council, the Thunder Bay Public Library and the Thunder Bay Real Estate Board.
The public is invited to submit questions to the candidates at https://www.tbpl.ca/candidate-questions/.
The event will take place Feb. 20 at the Confederation College Lecture Theatre on the second floor of the Shuniah Building, in Room 351 and is scheduled to run from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Candidates in Thunder Bay-Atikokan include Eric Arner (Green), incumbent Kevin Holland (PC Party), K.C. Jones (Northern Ontario Party), Stephen Margarit (Liberal), Judith Monteith-Farrell (NDP) and Martin Templeman (New Blue Party).
In Thunder Bay-Superior North, candidates include Daniel Campbell (Northern Ontario Party), Rick Dumas (PC Party), Brian Hamilton (Liberal), Steve Hanssen (Independent), John Norhtey (Green), Katherine Suutari (New Blue Party) and incumbent Lise Vaugeios (NDP).
