Technical problems got in the way of Green party Leader Frank de Jong's piggyback participation in the Ontario leaders' debate Thursday night.
The party was not invited to the formal 90-minute televised debate at which Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty faced off against Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory and NDP Leader Howard Hampton.
Ontario Green Party Leader Frank de Jong, seen with Peterborough candidate Miriam Stucky on Tuesday, went ahead with the party's online debate despite technical problems.
(Clifford Skarstedt/Canadian Press)
However, de Jong planned to take part by holding a public debate party at the Pantages Hotel and Spa in Toronto.
There, he was to show the debate on a screen with the sound turned down, and answer the debate questions in real time before members of the public and media and for broadcast on the internet.
Only around 60 people showed up at the party, and technical glitches meant that de Jong got access to the debate questions 45 minutes late.
He answered them regardless, promising a school system free of religious segregation and carbon taxes on fossil fuels if elected.
He told reporters that polls show that more than 10 per cent of voters intend to vote for his party, and it may get some MPPs elected during this election or the next.
He added that he hoped Ontario will vote in favour of electoral reform during the referendum that will be held in conjunction with the election on Oct. 10. The proposed mixed-member proportional system on the referendum ballot would likely help his party win seats in the legislature.
Related
Ontario Votes 2007 »
- McGuinty wins massive majority, Tory loses seat
- Dalton McGuinty won a second majority government for the Liberals in Ontario on Wednesday night, a triumph for a party that earlier expressed fears of a drop to minority status.
- Ontario rejects electoral reform in referendum
- Ontario voters have rejected a proposed electoral reform that would have seen some provincial legislators chosen based on a party's share of the popular vote, results showed Thursday.
- Ontario voter turnout a record low
- The percentage of eligible voters casting ballots in Wednesday's Ontario election hit an all-time low despite changes introduced in an effort to boost turnout.
- Ont. Green party scores 8 per cent of vote
- No Green party candidates made it to the Ontario legislature in Wednesday's election, but that defeat was sweetened by a swell in their share of the popular vote, which more than doubled.
- McGuinty only leader not facing leadership questions
- Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty won re-election in Ottawa South and NDP Leader Howard Hampton again won his northern Ontario riding of Kenora-Rainy River. PC Leader John Tory was defeated.
District Profiles
More Ontario Votes Headlines »
- McGuinty wins massive majority, Tory loses seat
- Dalton McGuinty won a second majority government for the Liberals in Ontario on Wednesday night, a triumph for a party that earlier expressed fears of a drop to minority status.
- Ontario rejects electoral reform in referendum
- Ontario voters have rejected a proposed electoral reform that would have seen some provincial legislators chosen based on a party's share of the popular vote, results showed Thursday.
- Ontario voter turnout a record low
- The percentage of eligible voters casting ballots in Wednesday's Ontario election hit an all-time low despite changes introduced in an effort to boost turnout.
- Ont. Green party scores 8 per cent of vote
- No Green party candidates made it to the Ontario legislature in Wednesday's election, but that defeat was sweetened by a swell in their share of the popular vote, which more than doubled.
- McGuinty only leader not facing leadership questions
- Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty won re-election in Ottawa South and NDP Leader Howard Hampton again won his northern Ontario riding of Kenora-Rainy River. PC Leader John Tory was defeated.
