Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown missed two mayoral debates this week ahead of the Oct. 26 municipal election, leaving challengers to discuss their platforms without an opportunity to question the incumbent, The Pointer reported.
Brown did not attend the Brampton Board of Trade/Y Media debate on Monday, Oct. 5, or the Better Brampton debate at the Royal Palm event venue on Tuesday, Oct. 6. The Pointer said he did not respond when asked why he missed the events.
Several candidates criticized the absences, arguing that Brown should attend debates to answer questions about his record and the claims he has made during the campaign.
“It’s disrespectful to residents,” mayoral candidate Sandeep Somal told The Pointer on Tuesday. “It’s disrespectful to democracy. It’s disrespectful to us candidates.”
The Monday event was pre-recorded for broadcast by Y Media and was not open to the public. According to Somal, participants understood Brown was expected to attend, based on information organizers had provided about the number of candidates.
Somal said the debate was scheduled for 1 p.m. and candidates waited until roughly 1:30 or 1:45 p.m. for Brown to arrive.
Candidate Wesley Jackson said the other candidates then discussed whether to continue. They decided to proceed because Brown’s absence was not the organizers’ responsibility and they wanted to respect the business community, media and voters.
Somal said the Board of Trade acknowledged Brown’s absence at the beginning before continuing with the debate.
At Tuesday’s event, The Pointer reported that Prabh Gill, Wesley Jackson, Paul Tariwal, Vidya Sagar Gautam and Nathaniel Peart were present. A chair reserved for Brown remained empty.
Challengers wanted answers on housing and transit
Jackson said he had intended to ask Brown about affordable housing wait times, a land value audit and how reducing fees paid by developers would translate into lower home prices.
He also wanted to question Brown about a private transit agreement with Argo and funding for Brampton Transit over the next five years.
Somal and Tariwal disputed Brown’s campaign claim of $9.4 billion in investment for Brampton. Tariwal argued that some of the funding came from other levels of government or previous councils, while some had not been guaranteed.
Gill said he wanted Brown to commit to serving the full four-year term if re-elected, rather than seeking a federal party leadership.
The two absences followed Brown’s brief appearance at a Brampton Arts Organization debate at Springdale Library on Sept. 15. According to The Pointer, Brown made opening comments but left before candidates, residents or media could question him.