Hundreds take part in Manitoba's first online debate

Last Updated: Friday, January 6, 2006 | 5:17 PM ET

CBC News

Manitoba's first online election forum sparked lively debate Wednesday night, despite a few minor technical glitches.

Adam Sobkow, who organized the forum for Brandon-Souris candidates, says he was surprised to find almost 200 people logged on during the hour-long web event.

Candidates from the NDP, Liberal and Conservative parties in the riding participated in the forum. Each visitor to the chat room could pose a question to the candidates; the candidate then had the opportunity to give one time-limited answer to each question.

Conservative candidate Merv Tweed says potential constituents asked a lot of questions about education and the environment.

"By the questions that were appearing, it appeared there were a lot of young people that were asking the questions," he said.

Participants from as far away as Japan

One person even joined the forum from Tokyo. Liberal candidate Murray Downing says the innovative debate gave voters a unique opportunity.

"It's a big constituency and we don't get to see everybody, so this was a chance for somebody from their house or apartment or wherever they're from," said Downing. "Like the overseas fellow who's going to vote, that was a chance. He wouldn't have had a chance to talk to us."

Even though the debate was held online, the instructions were given out loud and on paper. In fact, the old-fashioned paper and pen still played a major role in the internet event, since all three candidates had someone else typing for them.

NDP candidate Bob Senff admits there were some tense moments.

"Every once in a while the cursor would jump off the screen and then we'd panic there because you've only got 30 seconds," he said.

The event was so popular, Sobkow even extended the debate by 10 minutes to get in a few more questions. He says he's considering hosting a second debate for the other Brandon-Souris candidates.

Four other candidates are also running in the western Manitoba riding: Colin Atkins for the Christian Heritage Party, Lisa Gallagher for the Communist Party, Brad Bird for the Green Party and Independent Mike Volek.