Carleton debate tonight in Manotick

MANOTICK – Pack up the minivan because it’s going to be a bit of hike, but if you want to see three of the 91 candidates running in the Carleton Riding for the federal election, there will be an all-candidates meeting at the Manotick Community Centre (5572 Dr. Leach Dr.) tonight (April 15).

With the election less than two weeks away (April 28), and no all-candidates meeting scheduled in the West Carleton end of the huge Carleton Riding, this might be your only chance to see three of the four main candidates in the upcoming election in a debate format.

While Conservative Carleton incumbent and Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre is sending his regrets, Liberal candidate Bruce Fanjoy, Green Party candidate Mark Watson and NDP candidate Beth Prokaska will all be in attendance. It is unsure if organizers invited the other 87 candidates running in the riding to attend.

Other candidates running in Carleton not forwarded by official agent Tomas Szuchewycz of the Longest Ballot Committee include Karen Bourdeau of the United Party of Canada, Sebastien CoRhino of the Parti Rhinoceros Party and Shawn MacEachern of the Canadian Future Party.

The debate will begin at 7 p.m. and held in the Kiwanis Hall which is on the second floor of the community centre.

New federal ridings have changed the landscape in West Carleton for the April 28 election. The West Carleton community is now divided in to two ridings. Ward 5 residents west of, from the Ottawa River to Highway 417, Berry Side Road. Murphy Side Road, Craig’s Side Road, Donald B. Munro Drive and Vaughan Side Road are now in Carleton Riding. Those who live east of those roads are now in the newly formed Kanata Riding.