It’s election business as usual for federal Conservative candidates in two county ridings.
Local candidates are continuing to respond to media inquiries and will attend all-candidates meetings, John Nater and Michael Chong confirmed this week.
An Aug. 28 Toronto Star article cited a “Conservative insider” stating most of the party’s candidates, including some experienced cabinet ministers, “have been told no debates and no media” for the duration of the campaign.
This directive came in the form of an “informal edict,” according to the report.
“I’ve heard nothing of the sort,” Perth-Wellington Conservative candidate John Nater told the Advertiser in a telephone interview shortly after the article was published.
Asked if he was aware of any other candidates receiving such a directive, Nater said, “I just know what I’ve been told; there’s been no such directive [given] to me.”
Nater said he continues to interact with local media and plans on attending numerous debates.
“I speak to our local media all the time. I return phone calls when they call me. So I’m in constant contact whenever one of our local media outlets get in touch with me.
“So far we’ve confirmed our participation in five debates,” he continued, noting he is awaiting confirmation on a sixth debate to be hosted by the Wellington Federation of Agriculture.
“That’s my priority in this campaign, to get out and meet as may voters as possible because it’s all about letting people know who I am and where I stand.”
Wellington-Halton Hills Conservative candidate Micheal Chong echoed Nater’s comments.
“I’ve never gotten that direction and I did see the article and I note there are lots of unattributable sources in there so I don’t know where it’s coming from,” he said.
“We certainly have not gotten that direction from the national party.”
Chong added he has not heard of any other Conservative candidates being directed not to attend debates or speak with the media.
Chong said he is confirmed to attend six all-candidates meetings during the election campaign.
