I can only guess at the reason.
At least four Toronto District School Board trustees say their local Progressive Conservative candidates are refusing to take part in all-candidates’ meetings on education — despite the debates being announced last May by the provincial trustee association — and at least six more Toronto trustees say Tory candidates are the only ones they have been unable to nail down.
Toronto trustee Howard Goodman first suggested the special province-wide meetings, since endorsed by the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association, and said he is surprised he has been unable to confirm PC candidate Rocco Rossi (Eglinton-Lawrence) for the panel, despite having approached him weeks ago.
“There seems to be a timidity and reluctance on the part of some PC candidates to take part in these debates and I can’t understand why; my ward alone has nearly 16,000 parents who are voters and a no-show at an education debate would be an embarrassment and a political liability,” said Goodman on Sunday.
Trustee Shelley Laskin said she is “deeply disappointed” that Progressive Conservative candidate Christine McGirr (St. Paul’s) has declined to take part, citing another engagement which she did not specify.
“I’m surprised they have a conflict since we did notify the St. Paul’s Conservatives July 7 of this event,” said Laskin, noting the Liberal and NDP candidates have both agreed.
