Skip to content

Chamber opens up all-candidates forum to public

The Battlefords Chamber of Commerce has reversed plans to hold a chamber-members-only all-candidates forum. ”The Battlefords Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a Federal Election ‘All Candidates Forum’ OPEN to the public.
election 2019 pic

The Battlefords Chamber of Commerce has reversed plans to hold a chamber-members-only all-candidates forum.

”The Battlefords Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a Federal Election ‘All Candidates Forum’ OPEN to the public. We have heard the requests,” was the statement from the chamber in a news release Oct. 10.

The all-candidates forum will be held at Western Development Museum Thursday, Oct. 17 between 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., at the Muse Theatre.

All five candidates have been invited and the chamber release indicates they anticipate at least four of them will show up.

The chamber had initially decided to go with an event closed to the public aimed only at the chamber membership, citing declining interest in the public format.

But it is known the Battlefords Chamber of Commerce was under considerable pressure to reconsider by supporters of the various campaigns in Battlefords-Lloydminster, who wanted to see an open event in the Battlefords.

As well, other all-candidates’ forums in the riding, in particular the one in Unity on Oct. 1, have attracted considerable interest and strong attendance from both candidates and the public. The attendance in Unity was estimated in excess of one hundred people.

The format for the North Battleford event will be similar to previous years, with the inclusion of written questions from the floor, which means the public will have the opportunity to bring a prepared question or write a question on supplied cards once they arrive. The Battlefords Chamber’s chair Dallan Oberg will act as moderator.

As well, candidates will be provided a table for their campaign materials in the Eagle Room to provide the public time for viewing or picking up reading materials.