Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty says he’ll be a no-show for a debate on northern Ontario issues in Thunder Bay on Sept. 23.

That has Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak and the NDP’s Andrea Horwath putting the heat on McGuinty, who said Wednesday he sees no need for another debate in addition to the major televised one Sept. 27.

It’s another sign McGuinty has “turned his back on northern Ontario,” Hudak said as party officials noted the Liberals released their northern Ontario platform by email last Friday while McGuinty toured a solar panel plant in Newmarket.

Liberal aides said McGuinty has asked that one of the six segments in the Sept. 27 debate be devoted to the north.

“I am very much looking forward to the debate that has already been scheduled,” McGuinty said in Ottawa. “I think it’s a great opportunity to debate northern issues.”

Horwath said northerners will be “pretty disappointed” with McGuinty’s decision and noted she’d be happy to debate Hudak alone and leave an empty chair.

While Horwath has been pushing for more debates, Hudak has been coy on the idea, suggesting that recent polls putting the Liberals in a slight lead have the Tories seeking more exposure for their leader, a former minister of northern development and mines who has travelled widely in that part of the province.

With files from Robert Benzie and Richard J. Brennan

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