Note: Due to the involvement of The Haldimand Press in this story, we are running the following article by JP Antonacci.
By JP Antonacci
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Hamilton Spectator
Amy Martin got as far as the parking lot.
But the Progressive Conservative candidate in Haldimand-Norfolk left the Caledonia Lions Community Centre just before 7 p.m. on Wednesday, February 12 after learning the only candidate waiting inside to debate her was the incumbent, Independent MPP Bobbi Ann Brady.
What was billed as an all-candidates night organized by local newspaper The Haldimand Press turned into a job interview, as Brady had the floor to herself in front of a crowd of about 80 people, with more watching on YouTube and Facebook.
“I regret that it’s not a fulsome debate,” said Brady, who spent about 40 minutes answering questions on how she would tackle the housing crisis, ease the high cost of living by lowering taxes, help Ontarians access primary healthcare by giving nurse practitioners the same OHIP billing rights as doctors, and address violence in schools to help “burned out” educators.
In a statement posted to social media shortly before the debate started, Martin defended her decision to bow out of the first of two debates scheduled in the riding, and the only one in Haldimand County.
Martin said she agreed to be there “on the understanding that multiple candidates from all recognized parties would be participating.”
“It has since become clear that representatives from no other parties will be attending,” her statement read. “This information was not communicated to us in advance by the debate organizers. As a result, we have made the decision to withdraw.”
The Martin campaign did not respond to a request for comment for this story.
In a statement to The Spectator, the co-publishers of The Haldimand Press confirmed all six local candidates had been invited.
“Of course, we have no control over how many confirm attendance or how many actually follow through on that confirmation,” Kaitlyn Clark and Jillian Taylor said in an email.
NDP candidate Erica Englert — a university student in Ottawa — had previously told organizers she could not attend. Garry Tanchak of the New Blue Party declined hours before the debate, and the Green Party had only named Anna Massinen as its candidate earlier that day.
Bobbi Ann Brady, the incumbent, is running for re-election as an independent candidate.
Liberal candidate Vandan Patel told organizers in advance he planned to be there but changed his mind the day of, citing a lack of time to prepare.
Clark and Taylor said they were “disappointed that so few candidates were available,” but noted the newspaper has hosted debates since 2018 and rarely do all contenders turn up.
“We have never had a candidate turn down participating due to another candidate not being present,” they said.
Clark and Taylor said they learned of Martin’s decision to drop out when someone from her campaign team showed them the message she had already posted to social media.
They asked Martin to reconsider and “share her ideas with our attendees and viewers online.” But word soon came back from the parking lot that Martin’s decision was final.
Martin is on an unpaid leave from Norfolk County council as she tries to make the leap to Queen’s Park midway through her first term as mayor.
Her decision to skip the debate left many residents wondering why she did not seize the chance to introduce herself to Haldimand voters and challenge her main rival head to head.
“Let’s face it, this election in Haldimand-Norfolk is going to come down to two candidates, and this was an opportunity for those in attendance to hear Ms. Martin’s position on many local issues,” Zvonko Horvat, a retired OPP inspector and former Norfolk County detachment commander, wrote on Facebook.
“Why run away from that opportunity when you were already there for the debate. Sorry Amy, not very professional or leadership-like.”
In a video posted on Thursday to “correct the record,” Martin said she left out of “fairness” to voters, who “deserve to hear from all parties for their vision for Ontario.”
Commenters called that rationale “disrespectful,” “disappointing”, and “insulting to the intelligence of your constituents.”
“You, your team, and every HN resident has known this was a two-horse race from day one,” Waterford resident Shawn Broughton commented under Martin’s post. “Pulling out last-minute like this will cost you critical votes.”
Brady, the longtime executive assistant to former Conservative MPP Toby Barrett, was passed over as Barrett’s successor in 2022 and ran as an independent, defeating the Ford government’s chosen candidate, former Haldimand mayor Ken Hewitt.
She told the crowd that as an independent, she can better represent her constituents without fear of “getting in trouble” for “straying” from party talking points.
“You guide my decision-making — not a party, not Doug Ford. And I have the opportunity to ask more questions on your behalf than any PC backbencher,” Brady said.
There was an all-candidates night scheduled for February 18 at the Simcoe Legion at 7 p.m. (after Haldimand Press publication). Organizers said Brady, Englert, Martin, and Patel confirmed they will attend.
