Liberal candidate noticeably absent from all-candidates debate

The Liberal candidate in Shediac-Beaubassin-Cap-Pel, Jacques LeBlanc, was booed at an all-candidates debate Thursday evening because he decided to withdraw from the event.

The debate at the Pointe-du-Chne Community Centre was organized by a community group called Save Our Wetlands, Waters and Tourism, or SWATT.

People in the crowded room booed and jeered when moderator Warren Redmond announced that theShediac mayor, who's on leave from the post while running for office,had changed his mind with little warning.

"He did accept....and at the last minute decided to pull out."

Before the meeting got underway, organizers gave reporters a printed email exchange between LeBlanc's campaign manager, Andrew Bell, and event organizer Tim Borlase.

Bell accepted the invitation on LeBlanc's behalf on Aug. 24. After an exchange about the format and topics on the evening of Aug. 29, Bell forwarded a message from LeBlanc, indicating he'd changed his mind and was declining the invitation.

LeBlanc wrote: "there is absolutely no way that I would be able to participate in all the debates".

At this point, there are no other all-candidates debates scheduled in the riding.

Bad blood

Since 2015, LeBlancand Pointe-du-Chne residents have clashed over the Town of Shediac's approval of a controversial mega-campground project near ParleeBeach which former ShediacMLA Victor Boudreau was an investor in before eventually pulling out.

The project, slated to be the largest RV campsite in the Maritimes, faced fierce oppositionfrom the start.

On Thursday, one citizen asked the candidates how they felt about LeBlanc's absence from the debate.

"I'm not very surprised," said the Green Party's Sarah Colwell, the MonctonSouthwest candidate who was sitting infor Greta Doucet, who has not yet officially submitted her candidature for the riding.

"He seems a bit, um....how shall I say? Invisible? Uncaring. A bit too proud of himself, a bit too sure of himself," she said.

"Well, well, well," said ProgressiveConservative candidate Marcel Doiron, as the crowd laughed.

"I've known Jacques for a long, long time. And right now, he is scared. Because he did not do what he was supposed to do. If you're an honest man, you don't have to be afraid to be in front of people."

Through the evening, as citizens got up to the microphone to ask questions, constant references were made to the empty seat.

Linda Forestell, a Pointe-du-Chnecottage owner, said she attended the debate specifically to hear Jacques LeBlanc'sand the Liberals' takeon environmental issues.

"I was disappointed, discouraged, annoyed and baffled all simultaneously," she said.

Forestell said shethinks LeBlanc's absence will hurt not just himbut his party's image as well.

"I don't understand why any candidate for a political office would first accept an invitation to attend a meeting and then at the last minute cancel."