A Belledune not-for-profit has cancelled a candidates debate planned for Wednesday night.

Sandenn Killoren of New Brunswick 20/20 says he was shocked to receive an email Sunday signed by three Acadie-Bathurst candidates saying they would not be participating in the debate.

"It basically stated they were uncomfortable proceeding with the debate in the format it was because they had not received enough instruction or information on the debate," said Killoran. "They proposed that we change it to a meet-and-greet option."

Killoren says campaign workers for the three candidates — Jason Godin of the New Democrats, Serge Cormier of the Liberals and Dominique Breau of the Greens — offered to have them come to the meeting between 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. to be available to the public.

"They asked for a chance to stand up and give an introduction," said Killoren, "so to give their stump speech".

That wasn't supposed to end the negotiations there. - Dominique Breau, Green candidate

He decided to cancel the debate. Since the gym at Jacquet River School is rented for the event, Killoren jokes he will have to find something else to do with the space.

"Maybe I'll go play volleyball."

Green candidate Dominique Breau said the cancellation is due to a breakdown in negotiations.

"That wasn't supposed to end the negotiations there. If he didn't want to have that, he should have proposed us something else," said Breau. "It's not fair for anybody. Not fair for us having that bad publicity and bad for the people up there who didn't have a chance to meet the candidates."

There are three more debates planned in the riding: one hosted by a private radio station, and two that will be televised from a studio. None will have a live audience.