I hope Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford was serious when he accepted the challenge from Premier Kathleen Wynne for at least three televised debates as we head to the June 7 provincial election.
Ford did respond in the affirmative but mockingly suggested that the first debate take place in front of the jail where former Liberal staffer David Livingstone will serve four months for destroying evidence in the gas plant investigation.
Frankly, I don’t care if they hold the debates on the back of a pickup truck, I just think it’s important to make this happen for a number of reasons.
The premier certainly has to answer for a number of shortcomings and questionable policy over the years and take the heat from disgruntled voters.
But the debates would also help voters determine if Doug Ford is more than just clichés and platitudes.
Skeptical voters want to know how Ford intends to achieve the lofty goals he promises and they deserve those answers.
And speaking of those skeptical voters, the debates would give NDP Leader Andrea Horwath and Green Party Leader Mike Shreiner the opportunity to lay out their alternative visions for Ontario.
I’m tired of these orchestrated campaign rallies in front of partisan supporters that are sold to us as the candidate “meeting the people.”
Let’s get the leaders away from their talking points and into the political arena and let’s see what they’re made of.
Bill Kelly is the host of Bill Kelly Show on AM 900 CHML and a commentator for Global News