The Retired Teachers of Ontario (RTO) organization representing East Parry Sound has scheduled an all-candidates meeting at the South River Arena for Feb. 19.
Joint co-organizer Bill Atkinson says all six candidates running for office in Parry Sound-Muskoka have been invited to the event.
Atkinson says each candidate has been given two questions in advance from the organizers that deal with the housing issue in Ontario and access to a family doctor. Atkinson says in answering both questions, the candidates can use speaking notes or not.
“We didn’t impose any restrictions,” he said.
“In the event a candidate cannot be present they can send in their response to both questions and I will read them to the audience. This way everyone has a chance to have their message put to the public. We want everyone to know what the parties are offering them so they can make informed choices.”
South River town councillor Bill O’Hallarn, who is also a retired teacher, will moderate the event.
Each of the candidates has one minute to introduce themselves, briefly state their platforms and make any other comment within the time limit.
They will then each have two minutes to respond to the prepared questions from the RTO. After all the candidates have answered the two questions members of the audience can begin addressing the candidates.
Atkinson says the public will have 30 seconds to ask a question and all the candidates have one minute to respond.
Atkinson says the moderator will ensure that the public doesn’t get into a debate with any candidate in addition to making sure the candidates don’t interrupt one another when answering questions.
Also, it’s one question per person.
However, if time permits before the meeting is scheduled to end, Atkinson says members of the public can ask another question.
The public is asked to be seated by 6:30 p.m. with the event beginning five minutes later.
At 8:50 p.m. the candidates have one minute to make closing remarks before the event ends at 9 p.m.
The riding candidates are Graydon Smith the PC incumbent, Matt Richter who represents the Green Party, the New Democrats have Jim Ronholm as their candidate, David Innes is running for the Ontario Liberal Party, Brandon Nicksy the New Blue Party candidate while Helen Kroeker represents the Ontario Party.
Rocco Frangione is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter with Almaguin News. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.