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The broadcast consortium running Monday’s debate for the June 2 Ontario election had some explaining to do after NDP supporters questioned whether the Liberals qualified to participate.
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According to the rules for inviting leaders spelled out in a news release issued by the broadcasters, Del Duca didn’t qualify because his party is only running 122 candidates instead of the full slate of 124.
the original news release said that the “debate is open to all major party leaders running candidates in all Ontario ridings that currently have an elected MPP sitting in the provincial legislature.”
“So reading the rules released by the broadcasters’ partnership for the Ontario leaders’ debate, it seems that Steven Del Duca is not eligible,” longtime NDP staffer and strategist Karl Belanger said on Twitter.
Several other notable New Democrats commented on the discrepancy as well.
Not so fast said the broadcast consortium when contacted for comment on Sunday.
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“The spirit of the criteria the consortium uses to invite parties to take part in the debate is intended to give Ontarians a chance to hear from leading parties most likely to form a government in the province,” said consortium spokesperson Mackay Taggart, a news director atGlobal.
“This criteria includes having a sitting MPP at the time of dissolution who was elected to the legislature as a member of that party, having a clear, identifiable platform, and running candidates in all, or mostly all, riding in the province.”
The full wording of the clarification means Del Duca and the Liberals can participate but the upstart party New Blue, which is running 124 candidates is still excluded.
Neither the NDP nor the PC Party commented on the strange process of invites or whether Del Duca should be included. The Liberals issued a statement saying that their leader will be at the debate without notes, unlike Doug Ford.