Local politicians in the Battlefords will be up against some considerable competition Tuesday night when the Battlefords Chamber of Commerce hosts its all-candidates forum.
The problem is the forum March 22 falls on the same night as a Battlefords North Stars playoff game.
The election forum is to run from 7 to 9 p.m. at Third Avenue United Church. Meanwhile the North Stars host the Kindersley Klippers in game three of their SJHL quarter-final series at 7:30 p.m. at the Civic Centre.
Battlefords Chamber executive director and North Stars fan, Linda Machniak, noted the conflict at Tuesday’s Chamber board meeting.
The concern was that the North Stars game will cut into attendance at their election forum; as well, they noted CUPE was holding their own election forum at the Dekker Centre the following evening.
In any event, the Chamber is looking forward to hosting their forum again. It will take on a similar format to last fall’s federal election forum.
Machniak said she expects three of the parties running in the Battlefords to take part in the Chamber debate. The Green Party had not confirmed their participation as of Tuesday night’s board meeting.
The CUPE forum the following evening goes on the same night as the televised leaders’ debate in Saskatchewan. However, the TV debate should conclude just in time for the CUPE event, which starts at 7 p.m.
Chamber directors, including president Jay Bottomley and executive director Linda Machniak, met for their monthly meeting Tuesday night at which time next week’s Chamber all-candidates forum was discussed. It looks like the event will be up against a North Stars playoff game in the city. Photo by John Cairns
