Broten, Wall prepare for leaders debate

The Sask. Party’s Brad Wall and the NDP’s Cam Broten will come face to face for the first time this election in the leaders debate this Wednesday.

The two party leaders will answer a range of questions submitted by residents and asked by a panel of reporters.

The debate, which is set for 6 p.m., is hosted by the CBC working within a broadcast partnership pool which also includes News Talk Radio, CTV and Global. The debate will be broadcast on CJME live.

Leaders of the four other parties fielding candidates in the election were not invited to participate. The broadcast partnership agreed participants would be decided based on whether the party either held seats in the legislature at dissolution, or had a reasonable chance of winning a seat based on the best available polling.

In a news release, Liberal leader Darrin Lamoureux said organizers are doing a disservice to voters by not including all more parties in the leaders debate.

“If the criteria for the debate is that only parties that can form government are invited, then why isn’t Brad Wall standing alone on stage for an hour?” Lamoureux said.

Lamoureux and Green Party leader Victor Lau both have a full slate of candidates alongside the two main parties. 

The debates on health care, agriculture, education, economy, highways and infrastructure and finances will be broadcast on the Access7 channel and streamed online. Representatives of the Sask Party, NDP, Green Party and Liberal Party will all participate.

March 21 – Health care at 7:00 p.m., Education at 8:30 p.m.

March 22 – Highways and Infrastructure at 7:00 p.m., Agriculture at 8:30 p.m.

March 24 – Economy at 7:00 p.m., Provincial Finances at 8:30 p.m.