SUDBURY — In the 2022 provincial election, Progressive Conservative candidates in Sudbury and the Nickel Belt skipped debates and avoided all media interviews until the polls closed.

Despite many attempts Throughout their respective campaigns, neither Marc Despatie (Sudbury) nor Randy Hazlett (Nickel Belt) responded to calls. Instead, party spokespeople provided written statements with frequent non-responses.

After the polling stations close on June 2, 2022, the two candidates remained discreet about their respective absences during the campaign in the public spotlight.

“It was a decision that was kind of between me and the internal party,” Hazlett said.

Although Despatie declined to comment on the campaign strategy, he added: “You will see that it was not unique to Nickel Belt, it was not unique to Sudbury.

During a funding announcement Monday afternoon at the Naughton municipal water treatment facility, Premier Doug Ford offered his own non-response to a Sudbury.com question regarding his party’s approach to the upcoming elections.

Sudbury.comThe textual question was as follows:

“During the last election, we didn’t hear much from local Progressive Conservative candidates. They avoided any media interviews, and after the election we learned that it was a directive from above not to give these media interviews. Do you have a way to ensure transparency in the next provincial elections, whenever they might be called? »

“Well, you know something, we’re focused right now on moving the province forward,” Ford said. “That’s the last thing on my mind, to be very frank with you.”

The rest of his response didn’t answer the question. Instead, he talked about infrastructure, the gas tax, affordability, economic development and how other governments are raising taxes.

Nickel Belt NDP MP France Gélinas, who was present at the press conference, said Sudbuy.com she considered the Prime Minister’s response to be revealing.

“Transparency and accountability are almost impossible with this government,” she said, adding that she had been waiting two and a half years for documents from the access to information process that should have been made public. start with.

“They have their message, they repeat the same message over and over and don’t let anyone speak,” Gélinas said.

In the upcoming provincial election, Gélinas said she expects to see the same thing from the Progressive Conservatives.

“Their candidates will not be allowed to speak, their candidates will not be allowed to share anything with the media. Everything will come from the center, so they control the message all the way… They’re doing the same thing at Queen’s Park. Even MPs are not allowed to speak.

In response to a question during Monday’s media event, Ford said, “There will be no early election this year.”

Because every time there is an election, Ford has capped off his comments by urging people to vote “PC Blue” to reap greater benefits.

“Look what happened to Thunder Baylook what happened to Timmins when they turned around,” he said. “110 ministerial visits to Thunder Bay? Everything is said. »