NEWS RELEASE
BRUCE STANTON CAMPAIGN
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Following media reports recently concerning an All Candidate Meeting organized by Orillia For Democracy for Thursday September 26th, the Campaign for Bruce Stanton would like to correct the record regarding the decision not to participate in this event.
When approached to take part in this event, Bruce initially thought that this event was similar to the 2015 All Candidates Meeting organized by the Eco-Justice portfolio group of St. Paul's United Church, and was delighted to accept.
We subsequently learned however, that the event driver was the social activism group ' Orillia For Democracy' and that St.Paul's was simply to host to event.
While still expressing our interest in participating, the All Candidates Meeting Coordinator for our campaign, Doug Lewis, tried to get further information about this group and the agenda. He was repeatedly ignored or rebuffed.
When it became clear to our campaign that this event was not as advertised, and that the organizers were directly involved with the campaigns of other candidates, we respectfully declined.
It was our feeling then, as now, that such a meeting would not serve the voters of Simcoe North looking for a balanced discussion on the topics mandated by the organizers.
Bruce felt that this was being misrepresented as a non-partisan event and not fair to candidates who were not aligned with the organizers.
Our greatest concern, however, was, that upon finally receiving an agenda for the event, the questions were all coming from the organizers and from other candidates.
Questions were only to be taken from the audience by the Moderator "time permitting". We felt it would be disrespectful to the voters of Simcoe North to endorse an event where the audience would be merely spectators.
Bruce has accepted all other public forum meetings and continues to be open for debates with his fellow candidates pending available time. He trusts, however, that these debates will give voice to all the views expressed by all of the Simcoe North candidates.
This is the essence of free speech and voter choice, the very foundation on which Canada's inclusive democracy rests. Bruce further hopes that the issues raised at these other open debates will come from the people of Simcoe North, not from interest groups intent on their desired outcome.
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