Amidst allegations of dodging the recent candidate's forum in Canmore and trying to influence the upcoming Banff forum, Conservative MP and incumbent Blake Richards maintained that being open and accessible have always been a top priority.
Amidst allegations of dodging the recent candidate's forum in Canmore and trying to influence the upcoming Banff forum, Conservative MP and incumbent Blake Richards maintained that being open and accessible have always been a top priority.
"We've obviously run an open and accessible constituency office where we've been able to help thousands of constituents in their dealings with the federal government."
Richards said he's always made a sustained effort in connecting with his constituents through open house meetings, conducting surveys and being "open and accessible by email, phone and various other methods."
Richards, Banff-Airdrie's reigning Conservative MP since 2008, passed on the recent Canmore candidates' forum Sept. 29, sparking questions about his engagement and openness with constituents. He stood by his original comments made to the Rocky Mountain Outlook that he chose not to participate since he was unavailable on the date, that it was not a joint forum with Banff and that he wanted to attend three forums - one in Airdrie, one in Cochrane and one in the Bow Valley - due to the riding's size.
When asked what he was busy doing, Richards said his campaign schedule simply had him somewhere else. Asked to elaborate, Richards said 'off the top of his head' he couldn't recall.
The forum went ahead without Richards' presence and a separate Banff forum is still planned for Oct. 15.
The Outlook reported that Richards' campaign took issues with the Banff forum's format - specifically the unstructured portion of the debate - and requested changes be made.
Richards wished to clarify on the basis of his previous participation "in over a dozen debates as a member of Parliament and in two elections now."
"The concern I had with format for Banff was the portion," he said, "that would encourage all candidates to shout over top of each other, and it's something people have expressed concern about to me.
"We believe it's important when you have a forum that it be collegial. It's a service to voters and allows them to hear from the candidates and hear from them in a fashion that really is respectful."
He argued the forum was "a significant departure from the past practice in the riding."
However, the Outlook reported that Darren Reeder, executive director of the Banff Lake Louise Hotel Motel Association and organizer of the Banff forum, said the format has always been the same in all the years that the association has hosted election forums.
"We've never had a candidate take issue with it in the past," Reeder related to the Eagle.
In spite of polls suggesting the Tories now trailing the Liberals, Richards argued this his party - based on the Conservative government's record of reducing taxes and balancing the budget - remains the only sensible option when compared to the Liberals and NDP.
"That's in stark contrast with the two opposition parties that want to increase massively in government spending and in the process of raising taxes."
When asked if there's anything he'll do differently if re-elected, Richards commented:
"I would certainly continue to work hard on behalf of voters, continue to be open and accessible and continue to do everything I can to ensure their views and concerns are heard in Ottawa. That's the primary role of the job and I absolutely commit the same approach moving forward."
