B.C. political leaders gear up for Tuesday’s debate

Lights. Camera. Debate.

Leaders of the three main political parties in B.C. are making final preparations for Tuesday night’s only TV debate of the election campaign before voters go to the polls on Oct. 19.

It is their opportunity to convince anyone who’s undecided to vote for them.

UBC political scientist Stewart Prest, who will also be a panelist on 1130 NewsRadio on election night, thinks the leaders will be prepared to battle.

“We’re unlikely to see a transformative moment,” explained Prest. “But it’s still going to be an important place for voters to come and make up their minds if they have not done so already.”

He adds that leaders have their work cut out for them.

Prest says that BC NDP Leader David Eby will have to be clear about his place to remain in office.

“Particularly those who are frustrated with the current state of affairs around things like affordability, access to healthcare, and the direction of the economy that the NDP’s long-term plans are the right ones. That they have a clear vision for the direction of the province and that they can provide that short-term relief that so many voters are calling out for.”

As for BC Conservatives Leader John Rustad, “They have to continue to try to strengthen their ties as a relatively new and in some ways unknown party with voters to try and assure voters that a vote for them will be a safe one and that, they too, have a long-term plan for the province.”

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For BC Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau, Prest says she will likely try to create some distance between the other two parties and specifically highlight the difference between the Greens and Conservatives.

Shachi Kurl will moderate the debate. She explains the questions being posed were put together by a group of local journalists, including herself.

“There will be challenging questions. It won’t be a walk through Stanley Park. These are leaders applying for the job of premier.”

Kurl says there will also be an open debate portion.

“We wanted to make sure there would be lots of opportunity for the leaders to engage one-on-one with each other without me in the mix. The key to that is they have to take turns. They have to not talk over each other all the time so the audience can hear what’s happening. If a leader clearly does not answer the question, I’m going to have to remind them of what the question is.”

She’s not revealing what kind of questions will be asked or what topics will be highlighted.

The 90-minute debate gets underway at 6:30 p.m.

–With files from Dean Recksiedler and Kate Walker.