If you did, not to worry.
It will be shown again at 9:00 a.m. – Wednesday April 27 – Rogers Cable 10
Neither the Conservatives nor the NDP bothered to appear on Goldhawk. The NDP and Conservative candidates continue their status as being:
“names on the ballot” but not “candidates”.
If you missed Goldhawk – check it out on April 27 at 9:00 a.m.
Toronto Danforth Debates - All Candidates Meeting 
Ouch! I’m not sure the words ‘bothered’ and ‘names on the ballot’ are fair characterizations of Layton’s status. Maybe von-Koenig’s. We shouldn’t expect national party leaders to drop the bigger concerns for the local, undoubtedly inconveniently scheduled, debates. After all we see them multiple times a day in the media. We know what their going to say. In those few ridings with national party leaders, the secondary candidates have the opportunity to shine without the excess noise and distortion field of a leader’s entourage.
On the other hand, Elizabeth May keeps getting snubbed by the daily news so maybe she’d have to show up for her local all-candidates meeting. 🙂
Thanks for your comment!
You make an interesting point when you say:
“the secondary candidates have the opportunity to shine without the excess noise and distortion field of a leader’s entourage”
That said, the Party Leaders are still the MP for their specific constituents. The debates/meetings is that they do provide a forum for local constituents to engage with their MP during an election.
In a 36 day election, I would think that it is reasonable that a Party Leader should be able to appear in an All Candidates meeting/debate at least once.
The reality with Mr. Layton is that he has not appeared in a debate in Toronto Danforth in 2006, 2008 or 2011. In 2008 he attempted to send Mr. Taubuns as a “stand in” – an attempt which was ultimately rejected by the attendees of the meeting.
Even if one accepts the premise that the party leaders are entitled to special consideration – the unwillingness to attend a Candidates meeting/debate for three elections in a row is a “bit much”.
Thanks again for your insightful comment. Hope you come tomorrow night!