An advocacy group for TTC riders is “furious” after mayoral election frontrunner John Tory dropped out of Monday’s debate less than four hours before it was to take place.

Tory, trying to preserve a lead he has held since July, announced Monday afternoon that he has withdrawn from the TTCriders debate scheduled for 5 p.m. Monday, plus two debates planned for Tuesday. He is still participating in Monday’s second debate, at 7 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Church.

“With Doug Ford entering the race and less to six weeks to go until election day, we have entered a new phase of the campaign,” Tory’s campaign said in a statement. “John has extraordinary demands on his time and, unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate every event and request.”

The TTCriders event, held in conjunction with the Ryerson University student union, will now be a question-and-answer session with candidate Olivia Chow, executive director Jessica Bell said. A capacity crowd of 180 people was expected to attend.

“We are so furious right now,” Bell said in an interview.

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“It’s absolutely, absolutely disrespectful to the million transit riders who are squashed into TTC cars every single day. It is so disrespectful,” she said. “We organized this debate as volunteers so that people can get up to speed on the candidates’ transit platforms. He doesn’t even have the courtesy to turn up; he doesn’t even have the courtesy to give us advance notice.”

Tory’s campaign announced that he is withdrawing from both Tuesday debates, one organized by Better Living Health and Community Services and one by the York Quay Neighbourhood Association and Bathurst Quay Neighbourhood Association.

There are five debates between Wednesday and Friday, more than 30 between now and the election on Oct. 27.

Tory has generally been a strong debater. At a debate on Sunday, Chow attacked him over what she said is a “faith-based” proposal to fund a third of his SmartTrack surface rail line using tax increment financing. Her campaign argued Monday that he is attempting to duck further criticism.

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“It’s clear John Tory can’t compete with Olivia’s knowledge or her transit plan,” spokesman Jamey Heath said in a statement. “It’s no wonder why he ran away. I’d run away too, if I had to pass back-of-the-napkin silliness off as a real plan, up against someone who knows far more.”

Rob Ford skipped several debates before he quit the race on Friday after he was diagnosed with an abdominal tumour. Doug Ford, who has yet to hit the campaign trail, has not confirmed his attendance at any of the debates this week.

Last week, when asked about its plans in light of Rob Ford’s health situation, Tory’s campaign said he would stick to its previous schedule.

“Dozens of groups across the city have worked hard to put together events, many of which we confirmed months ago. These groups have hundreds of people coming out to hear from candidates (be it mayoral, councillors, school boards, etc),” the campaign said in an email on Thursday. “These organizations are encouraging us to continue with our schedule and we intend to honour our commitments.”

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