Independent candidate Dan Criger has issued the following media release:
A debate scheduled for Tuesday evening on Cogeco’s YourTV is excluding half of the candidates running in the federal election taking place in just nine days.
According to the debate questionnaire, only candidates from the following parties had been invited: Conservative, Green, Liberal, NDP, and PPC. The remaining five candidates were not invited.
“My team has attempted to contact YourTV for more information but they are refusing to get back to us,” said Dan Criger (inset), an Independent candidate in the riding. “I don’t know why they would not invite me, since I have more support than most of the parties they did invite, and I was the first to register with Elections Canada in this riding.”
On October 9 an all candidates debate was held in Cobden where organizers would not permit candidates to criticize Conservative incumbent Cheryl Gallant. “And now Cogeco will not allow her to be challenged by candidates outside the political establishment. This goes a long way to explaining the past 20 years,” said Dan Criger, referring to Ms Gallant’s 20 year reign in the riding.
It is not known at this time who of the five invited candidates has accepted YourTV’s invitation. The PPC previously complained to the Leaders’ Debate Commission when Maxime Bernier was not invited to the national Leaders’ Debate. Nor did the PPC, who have been vocal on ‘free speech’, comment on the limiting of free speech at the Cobden event – which they attended.
According to CRTC rules television stations are required to provide equitable treatment of all candidates when it comes to debates.
“1. Public Affairs* – In-depth examinations of candidates and issues, profiles of candidates, debates, and under the editorial control of the licensee.
“Equity requirements apply within each of the categories of paid time, free time, news and public affairs programs.
“…section 3 of the Act requires that “the programming originated by broadcast undertakings should be of high standard” and that “the programming provided by the Canadian broadcasting system should provide a reasonable opportunity for the public to be exposed to the expression of differing views on matters of public concern.” Licensees have an obligation under this section to ensure that their audiences are informed of the main issues and of the positions of all candidates and registered parties on those issues.
“Section 3 of the Act must also be applied when presenting public affairs programs, such as party or candidate profiles, features on certain issues or panel discussions.”
For further Information please see article in the Ottawa Citizen about the Cobden debate.
Killip,N. (2019,Oct.12) Half of the candidates in the riding of Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke are excluded from televised debate [media release]