By Andrew de Souza

Candidates explain their absence at debate

Apr 22, 2011 | 11:41 AM

After two candidates were absent from the debate on Wednesday and voters reacted with varying degrees of disappointment, paNOW caught up with them to give them a chance to explain their situation.

Liberal Party of Canada candidate, Ron Wassil, said he had come down with the flu.

He said that while he regretted not being able to come, he had said from the beginning that he probably wouldn’t have been able to make it and, subsequently, was not named as a speaker in the debate advertisements.

“I regret that, but when are not feeling up to it. It’s sometimes difficult to make a commitment to something that like,” he said. “I didn’t cop out.”

Hoback said from the beginning he had told the organizers it would be tough to make it into the busy 36-day campaigning schedule. On the night of the debate, Hoback said he was in Melfort at the Hodgins sale.

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“We knew we’d probably take a little bit of hit—that people would probably be a little upset by us not being there,” he said.

“But if you showed up and there was only 10 people there and then we missed the chance to talk to 4,000 to 5,000 farmers, well that’s what we’re weighing.”

The election takes place on May 2, with advanced polls now open.

For more: Hoback, Wassill no-shows at debate

adesouza@panow.com