EDMONTON – Progressive Conservative leadership candidates Thomas Lukaszuk and Ric McIver are both calling on their party to support a televised debate.
“We think Albertans deserve a public debate in order that they can be as informed as possible before they pick the next leader of this government,” said McIver.
“We strongly believe that Albertans deserve to get to know us and see our difference policy alternatives, but most importantly, public debate eliminates the possibility of sending mixed messages to different crowds and different circumstances,” added Lukaszuk.
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The two candidates have sent a joint letter to the party, asking to have the debate organized.
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McIver and Lukaszuk said the issue is the third candidate, Jim Prentice, hasn’t signed the letter.
“Perhaps it’s not as important to him as it is to us that we have this full funded debate,” said McIver. “One of the things that Albertans need to know is what their potential leader is going to say to all Albertans, not a tailored message to a tailored audience.”
“I have been, in a cursory way, involved in the last three leadership prior to this one and every single one had at least one major televised debate,” explained Lukaszuk.
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Lukaszuk and McIver said two major television networks have offered to hold a PC leaders debate.
Card-carrying members of the PC party vote for a new leader in September.
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