"To Debate Or Not To Debate": That Is The Question!

Rory J. Koopmans, B. Admin., 15902-100A Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta T5P 0L8

April XIIth, MMXXV

Hon. Demetrios Nicolaides, B. A., M. P. S., Ph. D., ECA, MLA, Minister of Education, United Conservative, Calgary-Bow

Dear Demetrios:

I am not sure why Edmonton-Centre Conservative Candidate Sayid Ahmed is getting such flak for not participating in a debate. It is of course a good idea to do so, but it is his & his campaign's choice whether to do do. Intrepid Reporter for The Edmonton Journal (who I find to be a very high quality person) Mr. Steven Sandor is pointing this out. I'd like to point out to Steve that in the past when I ran to replace Amarjeet Sohi for City Council, I was outside a debate hall & told I could go in as an "alternate" candidate if an invited candidate didn't show up. Three did not, I walked in escorted by their security & was forcefully shoved out by other security, right back into my car. Again I had the "alternate" invite, was approved to enter & tossed without explanation. This doesn't exactly make me want to debate.

Steve has to understand it works both ways. Another time when I ran in the race to replace Amarjeet, I wasn't invited to the Millwoods EPL community gathering room until the last day so I wasn't put in the system. I will chalk it up to an administrative error as there there were what 32 candidates running, but only 18 showed up. I was the last there & arrived late, I went back down to my car to gather my election brochures & 2 of my tires were slashed & so obviously couldn't debate that night. For the final debate in that campaign, I arranged for all the candidates & audience to bring Edmonton Food Bank donations. Though 22 of my competitors agreed to contribute, only 2 besides me did. There was no sense of community & caring at that debate. It should also be noted that 4 other debates were held & I was the only candidate not invited.

                           

When I ran in Edmonton-Centre provincially (as an Independent Candidate) in MMXV, St. Joseph's Catholic High School invited all the other candidates & told me in a typed letter later that they had purposely left me off at someone's request. I wasn't told by who, but that seems to be "gaming the debate system" in favor of certain candidates. Again, I don't even know anyone at the school, I still don't. I showed up when told of the debate & was allowed 5 minutes to speak. But I wasn't allowed to debate or even take any questions. An appalling display by the school which is Catholic (Christian) & is therefore supposed to be sympathetic & fair to all. They sure weren't to me.

Christopher Plummer,

Rory

Source: Www.StevenSandor.Com