Both of the men running for MLA in the Cariboo-Chilcotin Riding have agreed to sit down for an all-candidates forum at Creekside Seniors Centre in 100 Mile House.
The forum is being organized by the South Cariboo Chamber of Commerce, with the sponsorship of the BC Northern Real Estate Board, and is scheduled to take place on Monday, Oct. 7 from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Volunteer co-ordinator Donna Barnett said the format of the night will be similar to the forum held during the District of 100 Mile House's by-election earlier this year, with members of the public invited to come and ask questions of the candidates.
"The questions will come from the floor but the chamber will have everybody write their questions. Then there will be three members of the business community who will scrutinise the questions," Barnett explained. "We want a good debate, good clean questions and to give everybody an opportunity to discuss the issues at hand with the candidates."
The candidates for the Cariboo-Chilcotin Riding this year include incumbent BC Conservative Party MLA Lorne Doerkson and BC NDP candidate Michael Moses. The BC Green party had nominated Ashcroft's John Kidder, however, he was unable to secure enough signatures to make it onto the ballot. Barnett said each candidate will have two minutes to answer a question from the community, with the other candidates then afforded a minute rebuttal if they choose. Moderator Chris Nickless will then determine if another minute rebuttal is necessary from the original candidate.
This forum is open to anyone and everyone in the community with Barnett strongly encouraging any undecided voters to come out and participate. She is hoping they get a full house.
"It will give them an opportunity to hear who the candidates are, what they stand for and what the policies of their party are," Barnett explained. "It will be very interesting."
Barnett added that while there is no limit to how many questions a member of the public can ask, depending on how long the forum runs they won't be able to guarantee every question will be asked. While Barnett is organizing the event she will be taking no part in running it on the night of. As a member of Doerkson's campaign, she has a conflict of interest and has entrusted running the event to chamber volunteers.
The forum will be taking place just before advance voting opens on Oct. 10, Barnett noted, with polls being open from Oct. 10 to 13 and Oct. 15 to 16 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. In the South Cariboo, advance voting takes place at the 100 Mile House Community Hall and the 108 Mile Ranch Community Hall.
"I encourage everybody to come out (to the forum)."
