PC candidates have reportedly skipped debates in at least 23 ridings so far.

PC candidates are skipping debates in ridings all over Ontario

PC candidates are skipping debates in ridings all over Ontario

This is starting to look like a pattern…

Since Ontario’s election officially got underway last week, local ridings and organizations have been hosting debates designed to let candidates speak to the issues and introduce themselves to the public.

But it seems like plenty of Ontario Progressive Conservative candidates are opting to skip them.

Just over a week into the campaign, an analysis conducted by PressProgress has identified at least 23 ridings in which aspiring PC members of provincial parliament have reportedly been no-shows at local debates – some of them on more than one occasion.

(By comparison, only a handful of candidates from the other major parties appear to have been absent at any debates.)

Let’s look at a few examples.

Don Valley North

At the Don Valley North “All” Candidates Meeting hosted by the Bayview Village Association @BVAssociation. Unfortunate the PC candidate couldn’t make it tonight. Thank you to the Liberal, NDP and Green candidates who are here in the community to speak with us tonight. #ONpoli pic.twitter.com/9BYWzaF999 — Dan Fox (@DanFoxTO) May 14, 2018

Scarborough Southwest

Etobicoke-Lakeshore

Great almost all candidates debate. Lots of community attention and engagement. It’s unfortunate the PC candidate ducked the community again. #onpoli pic.twitter.com/7ZiVrFFakO — Peter Milczyn (@PeterMilczyn) May 17, 2018

Parkdale-High Park

Kitchener-Centre

#KitchenerCentre PC candidate plays hide & seek, while others in the race discuss transit, opioid addiction, & social housing. #DougFord‘s fear of openness with voters sets a lousy example other Conservative candidates adopt. #Onelxn #OntarioVotes #OnPoli https://t.co/qXR6WYaYv1 — Penny Gill (@PennyGill3) May 15, 2018

Beaches-East York

No sign of the Progressive Conservative at East York candidates’ meeting https://t.co/h6cpr63y8i — David Nickle (@DavidNickle) May 16, 2018

Debate #2 in #BeachesEastYork and second straight absence from the @OntarioPCParty candidate. Also, vague Last Supper vibe thanks to venue and set-up. #onpoli #ONelxn pic.twitter.com/QiLfYQdbCt — Craig MacBride (@CraigMacBride) May 15, 2018

Scarborough-Rouge Park

Toronto Centre

Mississauga-Erin Mills

Ottawa Centre

And the list goes on.

In at least 13 other ridings, PC candidates have withdrawn from, or been reported missing in action at, debates and all-candidates meetings.

These include:

Don Valley East

Hamilton Centre

Davenport

Eglinton-Lawrence

Waterloo

Spadina-Fort York

Mississauga-Streetsville

Etobicoke-Centre

University-Rosedale

Oshawa

Durham

Brampton Centre

Flamborough-Glanbrook

During the 2015 federal election campaign, Conservative candidates were instructed to avoid debates and the media.

While it’s unclear if there’s a similar strategy at play here, the sheer number of empty lecterns labelled “PC” at local debates has many people asking questions.

And given Doug Ford’s own cageyness about his promises and refusals to take questions from journalists, the emerging pattern seems clear – and the questions are likely to grow louder.

The Ford campaign’s decision to exclude journalists from this afternoon’s photo-op may be linked to the Liberal release today that highlighted more Islamophobic, racist and sexist remarks from London West PC candidate Andrew Lawton. Easier to avoid questions sans journos. #onpoli pic.twitter.com/nbuDrjUBaI — Chris Reynolds (@ChrisAReynolds) May 16, 2018

Annual cost of PC leader Doug Ford’s big-ticket promises so far:

$2.3B income tax cut for those earning $46,000+

$1.9B to end cap and-trade

$1.3B corporate tax cut

$850M tax credit for minimum wage workers

$800M cutting hydro bills

Analysis by @jchianellohttps://t.co/6qZoq7GnPw — Mike Crawley (@CBCQueensPark) May 11, 2018

Image: Twitter