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Scarborough-Guildwood debate raises candidates’ eyebrows

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Scarborough-Guildwood Green Party candidate Naoshad Pochkhanawala isn’t happy with the format of and conduct at a riding debate last week.

The debate, sponsored by the Coronation Community Association, was held Sept. 29 at Sir Robert L. Borden Business and Technical Institute ahead of the Oct. 6 provincial election.

Among the issues that has Pochkhanawala upset is an alleged request by incumbent Liberal candidate Margarett Best to deny audio recording of the debate.

“The request of the Liberal candidate that nobody at the meeting record the proceedings despite all the other candidates saying they had no objections” was unacceptable, he said in an email Oct. 2.

In response, Best said in a statement that questions about the debate should be directed to the debate’s organizers.

“During those times, the focus should be on policy, platform and who’s the best candidate for Scarborough-Guildwood,” she said.

The debate hit a roadblock when Pochkhanawala raised concern over the format.

“I’m not answering any more questions,” he said. “I don’t think this format is accurate.

“There’s just too much that is being said that is inaccurate and nobody has a chance to counter.”

Progressive Conservative candidate Gary Ellis agreed.

“There’s inaccuracies being stated that nobody can rebut,” he said.

Questions were gathered by organizers before the debate began and were then directed at the candidates. The candidates were given the opportunity to answer but rebuttals weren’t allowed.

Other candidates at the debate included NDP candidate Lorri Urban and Libertarian candidate Sam Apelbaum.

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