News that the People's Party of Canada leader Maxime Bernier will be allowed in the national TV debates has fired up local candidate Mark King.
The inclusion of Bernier was announced at 2 p.m.by David Johnston, who leads the commission overseeing the debates.
See: People's Party of Canada Leader Maxime Bernier invited to two broadcast debates
"You have satisfied me that you intend to field candidates in 90 per cent of ridings and, based on recent political context, public opinion polls and previous general election results, I consider that more than one candidate of your party has a legitimate chance to be elected."
One of those candidates is Mark King.
King told BayToday that party officials told him that part of the reason is that polling numbers are so high in Nipissing—Timiskaming.
"I was pretty darn sure we were going well here. People are certainly looking at the PPC policy. We're getting constant calls into the office from people all over the place talking about this transition that's taking place."
King says he always believed Bernier would get the chance to debate nationally.
"I absolutely knew that there was a change coming and you could feel it out there," he said. "People are tired of the same old same old that we're seeing right now."
Locally, Cogeco TV corporate policy also had eliminated King from its televised debate, and the North Bay District Chamber of Commerce had decided not to become involved.
See: The debate over debates. King shut out of local TV debate
Last week Cogeco said in a written statement to BayToday that it is their policy in accordance with the Leaders’ Debates Commission to “follow their methodology for Federal Leader’s Debates and apply them to local candidates’ debates.”
Candidates must meet two of three criteria, one of which states that “At the time the general election in question is called, the party is represented in the House of Commons by a Member of Parliament who was elected as a member of that party.”
King says he will meet with his campaign team to decide his next steps.
"My feeling was that the Cogeco debate wouldn't have been much of a debate unless I was actually there, and that's no slight on anyone. At this particular point Cogeco has their rules and you have to respect them but I would be surprised if they would continue that way."
An email to Cogeco was not immediately returned.
King is running against Liberal incumbent Anthony Rota, Conservative candidate Jordy Carr, and Rob Boulet representing the NDP.
The Green Party is expected to announce a local candidate at a rally tonight.
