Chamber of Commerce Forum tonight, provides first measure of Candidates for residents

The volume of election signs has been growing this week along
McBride Street at the Prince Rupert Court House

Those with plans to vote in the 2022 Municipal election will have their first opportunity to take the measure of the four Mayoralty and Eight Council candidates tonight as the Prince Rupert and District Chamber of Commerce hosts a Two Hour Election Forum at the Lester Centre.

The night one that hopefully will see the focus return to the work of the current Council membership and those that served before it and how those seeking a return to office and those making a new challenge would address the myriad of issues that have come along through the last eight years.

The format, host and panelists for the event has been on a bit of an evolution since we first noted of the Chamber's plans last week.

The most recent update now has CBC Daybreak host Carolina de Ryk serving as both a moderator and panelist, joined by Northen View editor KJ Millar, they both have an early list of some areas which may put the candidates to the test on the evening.

Candidates will be limited to answers of thirty seconds, so they had best be concise to get their points across before the sound goes out.

Ms. de Ryk, not only is long established broadcaster with the CBC, but also a mother. 

So should the candidates not follow the rules, they can expect some of her experience in the latter category to deliver a serious Mom look to perhaps best guide them on reflection  at to how they may best approach tonight's event. 

As for the candidates, all will be allowed one minute to introduce themselves at the start and a minute to wrap up their comments for the night at the end.

Those in the Lester Centre, or viewing at home through Facebook and YouTube may see such themes as Housing, Civic Planning and Bylaw enforcement, Crime concerns, Reconciliation, Health Care and Environmental themes making for the narrative of the questions for the night.

As well, since it has been a topic that has been introduced into the campaign since earlier this month, it's likely that the candidates will all have opportunity to speak to the Scrap the Tax Petition and how they view it, with all of those on the ballot having been noted by petition organizers as having supported the initiative. 

Towards tonight's format for conversation, each Candidate will have a chance to use those thirty seconds wisely to answer those questions, as well as to make use of rebuttal cards if desired.

There does not appear to be any opportunity for the audience to submit questions at the forum, though residents have had the opportunity to forward their questions to the Chamber.

The Doors to the Lester Centre open at 6:30 tonight, with the Forum to start at 7PM promptly.

Livestream links for the forum include the Chamber Facebook Stream and You Tube page.

Tonight's event has been organized by the BC Northern Real Estate Board, and Prince Rupert and District Chamber of Commerce,  with a number of volunteers stepping up to make sure that tonight's event runs smoothly.

You can review some of the Election themes to date from our archive page here.