CBC to hold Nunavut all-candidates forum April 23

Liberal Kirt Ejesiak and New Democrat Paul Irngaut, candidates in the 2008 federal election, listen as Green Party candidate Peter Ittinuar, right, speaks during the 2008 all-candidates forum in Iqaluit. Conservative Leona Aglukkaq, who went on to win in 2008 took part in that debate by telephone. This time she’ll be there in person when federal candidates in the 2011 election debate April 23. (FILE PHOTO)

Nunavut’s candidates in the May 2 federal elections will get a chance to debate one another after all.

CBC North said April 15 that it will hold an all-candidates debate at Iqaluit’s Parish Hall on April 23, starting at 7 p.m. The debate will be broadcast throughout Nunavut on CBC radio.

John Agnew, the managing director of CBC North said the broadcaster had originally been unable to work out a date that worked for all of Nunavut’s candidates and was prepared to a do a serious of bilingual phone-in shows instead.

But after some sabre-rattling by some of the campaigns, the April 23 date became an option again.

NDP candidate Jack Hicks issued a news release calling for April 23 to be debate night “if it’s the only night that works for the Conservatives.”

“This is the first federal election, in my recollection, that we’ve had reluctance on the part of candidates,” Agnew said. “Usually it’s all parties are pushing us.”

The campaign managers of Conservative Leona Aglukkaq said the original proposed date of April 26 wouldn’t work for their candidate, who is spending most of the campaign outside of Iqaluit.

That drew howls from Hicks, who suggested Aglukkaq wasn’t prepared to take part in a debate in person.

But the CBC rejected the idea of allowing any candidate to take part by phone, as Aglukkaq did in 2008.

“If not being there casts sort of a shadow over the equality and fairness of the whole thing… let’s just take it off the table,” Agnew said.

Aglukkaq campaign staffer Cailin Rodgers said April 15 that the Conservative wants to debate her opponents and understands why CBC wants everyone in the same room.

“We’re really happy that it’s resolved,” Rodgers said. “Leona will be there.”

No one from the campaigns of Liberal Paul Okalik or Green Party candidate Scott MacCallum was available for comment April 15. But Pat Nagle, CBC’s Iqaluit station manager said the three major party candidates have confirmed they’ll be at the forum.

MacCallum may have work commitments and may be unable to attend.

If that’s the case, Nagle said, the network will make arrangements for the Greens to have some sort of statement before the debate begins.