Sarnia-Lambton Liberals hosting provincial leadership forum

With the official Ontario Liberal Party leadership debate tour not stopping in Sarnia, the party’s local association has stepped in to organize its own forum.

Lois Nantais, president of the Sarnia-Lambton Provincial Liberal Association, said three of the five leadership candidates – Ted Hsu, Nate Erskine-Smith and Adil Shamji – have said they will attend the Sarnia event Oct. 7, 1 pm to 3 pm, at the Sarnia Golf and Curling Club. Bonnie Crombie and Yasir Naqvi are also running.

“It was disappointed to find out that there weren’t going to be any party-organized formal debates anywhere south of Stratford,” Nantais said.

Official party leadership debates, which are being live-streamed, are also being held in Thunder Bay, Toronto, Ottawa and Brampton.

Nantais said all five of the candidates have campaigned in Sarnia and, after checking with the party, the local association organized the informal leadership forum three candidates confirmed they will attend.

“The others are welcome to jump on board but because it’s on Thanksgiving Weekend, I also recognize what a commitment that is for them,” she said.

“I’m delighted with the three gentlemen who have agreed to come.”

Admission to the forum is free. Those attending can register online at www.eventbrite.ca. A link has also been posted on the local association’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/SarniaLambtonPLA.

Nantais said the forum is open to the public, as well as party members, to give local residents an opportunity to hear from leadership candidates.

“It seems like the political scene is getting more insulated and not accessible,” she said.

“I know why. Everyone’s worried about conflict. There are some nasty people out there but I’m wanting to go the other direction and be brave enough to open access and have more of a democratic spirit to things.”

Nantais said she also wants local concerns to be heard by candidates for the party leadership, and for local residents to be able to hear how they respond to those concerns.

Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey has held the seat for the Ontario PC Party since 2007. Before that, it was held by Liberal Caroline DiCocco.

Nantais said she’s encouraged by the quality of the five candidates and by leadership election changes the party made to bring more attention to regions like Sarnia-Lambton located outside of large urban centers.

Voting with ranked ballots is set for November with the new leader scheduled to be announced Dec. 2.

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