Nicholas Simons, NDP candidate in the federal election, has refused to attend an all-candidates' meeting in Sechelt organized by a group called Sunshine Coast Christians in Public Affairs. So far, this is the only public all-candidates' meeting on the Sunshine Coast.
Simons said he declined the invitation because the meeting is "heavily weighted in favour of a right-wing agenda."
"It's not a neutral setting," he said. "I don't think it serves the public."
Graham Wray, who is organizing the all-candidates' meeting, disagreed.
"I would like to emphasize it is totally open," Wray said. "We have no control over what the candidates say or the questions asked."
In a letter inviting the candidates to the meeting, Wray said the meeting will focus on "moral and spiritual values" and listed topics of interest, including freedom of speech and religion, democracy, honesty and integrity in government, family and parental authority, abortion and euthanasia, social ills such as drugs, pornography and unemployment and a "caring society" providing support for the disadvantaged.
However, the meeting is open to the public and the floor will be open to questions on any topic.
Simons said the list of topics limits the meeting's agenda. "It was clear to me they had pre-conceived ideas about our positions on topics," he said. "It's pre-packaged. I have no trouble talking to those issues, but let's put it in a setting where there's neutrality."
Wray said the meeting is "purely in the public interest" and not partisan.
"Quite the contrary," he said. "I can't see how the values we espouse - freedom, democracy, a caring society, opposition to corruption and extravagance in government - can be considered right wing."
Conservative candidate John Reynolds, Green candidate Andrea Goldsmith, Liberal candidate Blair Wilson and Canadian Action Party candidate Marc Bombois all will attend the meeting, to be held at the Seniors' Centre in Sechelt, at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 19.
Goldsmith said she had no big concerns about the meeting being partisan. She believes anyone who organizes a political debate is likely to have a bias.
"Even when the Chamber of Commerce hosts a debate, they're coming from a particular point of view," she said. "We have to give people credit for having an open mind. I think the Green party will align with a lot of their values, and for some values we won't. That's life."
Goldsmith added this meeting is important.
"It seems it is going to be the main debate on the Sunshine Coast, because that's the one John Reynolds is going to attend," she said.
But Simons said he was not concerned about missing a chance to debate with his political rivals.
"Why would it concern me? I'd be more concerned if I gave that whole forum legitimacy," he said.
Reynolds said he was not aware of any political agenda for the meeting. He said he usually attends only one all-candidates' meeting on the Sunshine Coast because of time restrictions.
The Sunshine Coast Citizens' Coalition is also trying to organize an all-candidates' meeting.
Organizer Bob Smith said he was frustrated by the Reynolds' campaign's refusal to participate despite being invited on May 21.
"Mr. Reynolds, in refusing to participate in more than one all-candidates' meeting, and in accepting an invitation to a highly partisan meeting is depriving the citizens of this area of an opportunity that is their right," said Smith in a press release.
Two other all-candidates' events scheduled on the Sunshine Coast are not open to the public.
Reynolds is the only candidate who will not be attending an all-candidates' meeting at Chatelech Secondary School June 11, hosted by a student organization called the Chatelech Peace Group. Reynolds said he will be in Toronto that day, working on the Tories' national campaign.
Roger Lagassé, who is helping to organize the Chatelech event, said because of space restrictions, the event is for students, not the general public.
The Sechelt Chamber of Commerce is putting on an all-candidates' luncheon at noon on June 22 at the Driftwood Inn. This $15-a-plate event is for chamber members, who can chat with the candidates over lunch and then ask questions.
