Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown missed two mayoral debates this week ahead of the Oct. 26 municipal election, drawing criticism from the candidates challenging him for the city's top job.
Brown was absent from the Brampton Board of Trade/Y Media debate on Monday, Oct. 5, and from the Better Brampton debate at the Royal Palm event venue on Tuesday, Oct. 6, The Pointer reported. He did not respond when asked why he skipped the events, according to the outlet.
Several candidates said the absences denied voters a chance to hear Brown answer questions about his record as mayor and claims he has made during the campaign.
It's disrespectful to residents. It's disrespectful to democracy. It's disrespectful to us candidates.
Mayoral candidate Sandeep Somal made the comments to The Pointer on Tuesday.
The Monday event, which was pre-recorded for broadcast by Y Media and not open to the public, began with candidates expecting Brown to arrive. Somal said the debate was scheduled for 1 p.m., and participants waited until roughly 1:30 or 1:45 p.m. before starting.
Somal added that participants had understood Brown was expected to attend, based on information organizers had provided about the number of candidates. He said the Board of Trade acknowledged Brown's absence at the beginning before the debate continued.
Candidate Wesley Jackson said the other candidates discussed whether to go ahead. They decided to proceed, he said, because Brown's absence was not the organizers' responsibility and they wanted to respect the business community, media and voters.
At Tuesday's Better Brampton debate, The Pointer reported that Prabh Gill, Wesley Jackson, Paul Tariwal, Vidya Sagar Gautam and Nathaniel Peart took part. A chair reserved for Brown sat empty.
Jackson said he had planned to ask Brown about affordable housing wait times in Brampton, a land value audit, and how reducing fees paid by developers would translate into lower home prices.
He also wanted to question the mayor about a private transit agreement with Argo and funding for Brampton Transit over the next five years.
Somal and Tariwal both disputed Brown's campaign claim of $9.4 billion in investment for Brampton. Tariwal argued some of that 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 a full four-year term if re-elected, rather than pursuing a federal party leadership.
The two absences followed a brief appearance by Brown 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.
Brampton voters go to the polls on Oct. 26.
