There’s been much controversy this week over Conservative candidate John Weston’s choice not to attend an Oct. 2 all candidates meeting in Sechelt, which organizers say he agreed to in early September.
Jef Keighley spoke at the beginning of the all-candidates meeting on behalf of organizing bodies The Alliance 4 Democracy and the Sunshine Coast Senior Citizens, saying he only learned of Weston’s intended absence after stopping by his office that day to relay some last minute information about campaign materials.
“When I spoke with John Weston he stepped out of a small gathering at his office to let me know that he would not be here tonight, citing a conflicting event elsewhere in the riding,” Keighley said. “Following my visit, his office staff called Betty Baxter (moderator for the meeting) to apologize for John’s last-minute decision not to attend.”
Only three candidates – Liberal Party candidate Pam Goldsmith-Jones, Green Party candidate Ken Melamed and NDP candidate Larry Koopman – attended the Oct. 2 meeting dubbed The State of Canada’s Democracy, which drew about 400 members of the public.
“I want to tell you by way of explanation that the specific date, today Friday, Oct. 2, and the specific time, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., was set with the express purpose of accommodating the schedule of John Weston,” Keighley said to laughter and then boos from the large audience.
“All three of these candidates, knowing that was the rationale, were agreeable to this timing for that reason.”
On Monday, Oct. 5, Weston responded, saying he was unable to attend “because of a schedule conflict.”
He failed to provide any further information when asked by Coast Reporter what event caused the conflict.
He noted that since the Oct. 2 meeting “several people have commented that I refused to attend debates in Sechelt. This is complete and utter nonsense.”
Weston said he had already attended one debate in Sechelt on Oct. 1 and that he planned to go to two more all-candidates meetings hosted by the Chamber of Commerce on Oct. 8. “By the time I’m done, I will have done more debates than last time,” Weston said.
“However, as many of the people in Sechelt will have read in the papers, there seems to be a particularly uncivilized and nasty element to the local campaign here. I know these actions don’t reflect the great people who live in this area. The worst damage to our signs has been done in Sechelt. And after last Friday’s debate, one of my volunteers was verbally accosted in the parking lot by someone hurling disgusting abuse.”
Weston said he was “personally fed up” with the “uncivilized behaviour.”
“However despite provocation I will not be intimidated and am looking forward to debating issues in what I hope will be civil and respectful events that reflect the good people of Sechelt whom I have been serving for a number of years now,” Weston said.
