This weekend’s Trinity-Spadina federal candidates debate in Kensington Market was, at first, like one of those earnestly quirky but kind of lame dinner parties where the host insists you wear a toga and play Headbandz and which, for one reason or another, you feel obligated to attend.
But despite the cheese, (like swearing allegiance to Trinity-Spadina and having the candidates wear colour-appropriate capes) it turned into a decent debate about issues like transportation and the economy, thanks, in no small part, to the Pedestrian Sundays audience.
Oh I can’t stay long, NDP candidate Olivia Chow insisted at first, perhaps because gentrification is forcing her campaign up and away, towards the Lakeshore condominiums to be exact. Let’s just hope those condo owners aren’t too annoyed with the “Sorry I missed you” campaign brochure someone slipped under the door and force their superintendent to tighten that No Solicitation policy.
Liberal candidate Christine Innes is proving to be a strong contender in the riding–an Annex resident who may or may not have access to her husband’s old Rolodex, Innes, like Chow, gives sharp answers and has strong connections to the community.
The only other problem with the Kensington debate is that not a lot of people knew about it. Apparently Conservative candidate Christine McGirr didn’t get the memo either.
So if like me you’re losing interest in the increasingly crusty war of words in the Stephen vs. Stephane vs. Jack saga, try to find out where and when your next local MP debate is. And if you want to see Chow, Innes and Green Candidate Stephen LaFrenie in round two, come to the Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre on Oct. 6 at 7:30. No need to bring the toga.