Aaron Gunn MIA after Vancouver Island riding debate suddenly cancelled

It turns out the biggest question at the all-candidates debate in Campbell River Tuesday night was if it would go ahead at all. 

It didn’t.

The event, organized by the board of the Campbell River & District Chamber of Commerce and the sponsored by the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board, was officially cancelled on Facebook as people were already filing into the Tidemark Theatre when the venue’s doors opened at 4 p.m.

However, all the main-party candidates in the North Island-Powell River riding, minus one, arrived to speak to the crowd gathered in the courtyard outside. NDP candidate Tanille Johnston, Liberal Jennifer Lash, Green Jessica Wegg and Independent Glen Staples all made short speeches and offered to stay to take questions from people gathered outside the venue.

Conservative candidate Aaron Gunn — who hasn’t attended any of the three previous all-candidates debates in Comox, Powell River, and Alert Bay — did not make an appearance. 

Candidates got notice of the Tuesday event’s cancellation earlier in the day from Chamber Chair Philip Kountouris, who cited safety concerns for people at the event due to a protest expected to take place in the plaza across the street. 

Kountouris told Canada’s National Observer 300 protesters were expected, and despite two RCMP officers and two security guards scheduled to monitor the event, the risk was too great. 

“There's apparently a protest and a counter-protest being planned for this afternoon with the RCMP saying that public safety could be a concern,” Kountouris said. 

Cst. Maury Tyre, Campbell River RCMP media relations officer, said police hadn't advised the Chamber board of any safety concerns about any potential rallies, adding the members would have made any decision to cancel the debate independently. 

“That was not a suggestion made by the RCMP,” Tyre said. 

“By all means, people are welcome to protest as long as it’s done in a legal fashion.” 

Johnston, Lash and Wegg said they hadn’t gotten any warnings from RCMP about the event, but regardless of any potential protests, they felt safe attending the debate. 

No members of the Chamber board or the VIREB were in attendance to explain to the crowd of about 80 people milling around why it wasn’t going ahead — nor was any public statement issued on the websites of the two organizations. 

The Campbell River debate was originally scheduled to take place April 6, but was postponed at a day’s notice and moved to April 22 due to a “scheduling conflict” with one of the candidates. 

Johnston, Lash, and Wegg said they were able to attend the original date and were deeply disappointed with the latest cancellation and that voters in Campbell River would not have the opportunity to hear from all the candidates. 

Gunn did not respond to requests for comment about the event cancellation. He did post the letter from Kountouris on his Facebook page as his reason for not attending. 

A group of 20 people — including many older folks wearing orange ‘every child matters’ shirts — had gathered across the street to protest Gunn’s collection of social media posts that numerous First Nations leaders say amounts to residential school denialism. The rally had mostly dispersed by the time the candidates' meeting was scheduled to start. 

Terry Bergstrom, a Comox resident, said he was frustrated the event was cancelled. 

“We wanted to ask candidates some questions — that’s what democracy is all about,” he said. 

The all-candidates meeting is an opportunity to see candidates interact with each other and for voters to interact with candidates, Bergstrom said. 

“It’s an important election for our country and [the debate] is a way to try and make up our minds at the last minute because the election is very close.” 

Campbell River resident Paul Martin agreed. 

“I’m feeling disappointed and confused because I don’t see any protesters,” he said. 

“It’s too bad they didn’t put it on their website because we just checked it seven minutes ago.”

Campbell River Coun. and chamber director Ben Lanyon arrived at the venue after the debate was cancelled but did not speak to the crowd. Lanyon told Canada’s National Observer, he didn’t know why the event had been cancelled, and he wasn’t involved in the decision before declining to make further comment. 

Speaking to the crowd, Johnston told the crowd that she appreciated their disappointment and that they took the time out of their schedules “to show up, ask questions, hold us accountable and do your own due diligence.” 

She questioned how Gunn, if elected, was going to be able to represent a diverse riding if he wasn’t able to put himself in the “hot seat.”

“How is he going to represent us in the House of Commons and in very difficult conversations in the federal government if you can’t do it locally in your own backyard with your own constituents?” Johnston asked.

“This stinks, there’s no two ways about it,” Wegg told the crowd, noting she and the other candidates present at the event were prepared to do the difficult work of representing the community. 

“We’re really sorry this couldn’t happen for Campbell River. You’re such a key and important community in the North Island-Powell River riding.” 

Lash echoed the message to those gathered, emphasizing that debates allow people to hear all candidates’ views. 

“It’s about informed decision-making in terms of the vote,” she said. 

Lash told Canada’s National Observer it’s problematic that Gunn hasn’t shown up to any debates.

“It’s reprehensible that a person who wants to run in a democratic process and represent people won’t go ahead and be accountable for his words and show his face,” she said.

“That's not good politics, and it's not how we do things in Canada.”

It’s frustrating Gunn thinks he can take voter support for granted and not have to show up and meet people who have questions for him, Wegg said. 

“I think it speaks volumes,” she said. “He doesn’t have courtesy or respect for the other candidates, or the community, to answer questions.” 

It’s common practice for all Conservative candidates on Vancouver Island to skip public debates or events where they might have to answer difficult questions, Johnston said. 

“It’s a strategy and this is how we're seeing it playing out right now.” 

Political opposition and protests are part of running for office or being an MP, Johnston said, noting some protesters appeared at an election rally featuring NDP leader Jagmeet Singh Monday in Comox. 

“I don’t think I’ve attended a political event where there hasn’t been some sort of demonstration outside in one form or another,” she said. 

Erin Beaudoin, COO Vancouver Island Real Estate Board, told Canada’s National Observer on Wednesday that the group was a sponsor of the event but was not involved in the Chamber board’s decision to cancel it. 

Paul Macknight, from the People's Party of Canada, also did not show up to speak to the crowd.

There are two remaining candidates’ debates in the North Island-Powell River riding — in Port Hardy on Wednesday, April 23 and on Quadra Island Thursday April 24. 

Rochelle Baker / Local Journalism Initiative / Canada’s National Observer