Alberta Party Leader Glenn Taylor plans to virtually participate in the leaders' debate Thursday. (CBC)

While the Progressive Conservative, Wildrose, Liberal and NDP leaders are squaring off tonight in a debate, the Alberta Party leader is taking his message to social media.

According to established rules set out by the media consortium, the party doesn't qualify to participate in the debate because it doesn’t have an elected member in the legislature and they are not running a full slate of candidates.

The Wildrose Party was kept out for similar reasons two elections ago.

Leader Glenn Taylor said he's not happy about being left out, but has decided to live blog his answers online at albertaparty.ca/debate and also plans to post a video to YouTube.

“We need to focus on ideas, not the individuals behind them,” he said. “Albertans are not interested in us trying to tear down one other in order to gain political points. Albertans are paying attention for the first time in a very long time.

“So when we are putting forward ideas and debating the merits or the lack of merit of what’s on the table from the various political parties, let’s focus on the ideas and what’s in the best interest of Albertans, not what’s in the best interest of your particular political party.”

The debate starts at 6:30 MT tonight, and will be broadcast on CBC Radio One and live streamed on the CBC Alberta Votes 2012 website.