Candidates for the Burnaby South byelection have been invited to a townhall this Saturday in Burnaby to discuss if they will deliver on fighting climate change if elected.

Just don’t expect People’s Party of Canada candidate Laura-Lynn Thompson to be there.

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Organizers of the event – including the Canadian Union of Postal Workers – didn’t invite Thompson due to her strong opposition to the SOGI education materials implemented by the B.C. government.

“We didn’t think it was appropriate,” said James Hutt, a CUPW representative for the event.

Hutt said that federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh has confirmed he is coming, while Conservative candidate Jay Shin had a scheduling conflict. Hutt said they are waiting to hear if Liberal candidate Richard Lee will be available.

The topic is the role of public services in the transition to a greener economy.

“We know we need to reduce and eventually eliminate our reliance on fossil fuels,” said Mike Palecek, national president of CUPW.

“The question is: how? We have some ideas and we want to hear theirs. Voters deserve to know who’s willing to be part of that conversation and who is ready to take a leadership role in the new economy,” adds Palecek.

There will be guest speakers, including:

Palecek

Kari Michaels, executive vice-president, BCGEU

Kai Nagata, communications director, Dogwood

Stephen Crozier, New Westminster and District Labour Council

The event will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Firefighters Banquet and Conference Centre, 6515 Bonsor Ave.