Letter to the Editor

As we head towards the October 19 B.C. election, people rely on their democratic system to provide them with opportunities to assess the various candidates. One important tool in our democratic toolbox is the candidate debates.

Debates play an essential role in Canada’s democracy. Voters can witness first hand the character, temperament, and unscripted approaches of those seeking to be your MLA.

Making an informed decision is part of a thriving democracy. But when a candidate refuses to expose themselves to public scrutiny, the voter is frustrated and unable to evaluate that candidate.

Knowing this I was shocked to find out this past Sunday October 13 that the October 17 Kimberley all-candidates debate had been cancelled.

In response I spoke with one of the Kimberley Chamber of Commerce Directors about the reason for the cancellation, since both the Conservative and Green candidates had agreed to attend. The reason I was given was that the NDP candidate would or could not attend the debate.

We all know that the NDP candidate (Andrea Dunlop) was embarrassed by Scott McInnis in the Invermere debate, especially when she had to answer a question without her NDP talking points in front of her.

She obviously is not prepared to let the public see what she can do under pressure. As a veteran MLA, I can tell you, MLAs must be able to perform under pressure. You cannot always rely on somebody else’s talking points. Scott McInnis has proven he is up the job. He doesn’t need someone else’s notes to tell him what to think or what to say. Not so much for the NDP candidate who is hiding until election day.

Doug Clovechok,

(Retiring Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA and campaign manager for Conservative Party candidate Scott McInnis),

Fairmont Hot Springs

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