TIMMINS - As the provincial election campaign unfolds, some northern candidates remain absent from public discussion.
With the Ontario election on Thursday, Feb. 27, little is known about the Liberal and Green Party candidates in Timmins and Mushkegowuk-James Bay.
TimminsToday reporters reached out to the Green Party to connect with Timmins candidate Marie-Josée Yelle and Catherine Jones in Mushkegowuk-James Bay. They were each sent the same response from the "Ontario Green Team".
“They aren't available for media responses or appearances in this election,” wrote a party rep.
There’s been a similar lack of communication from Liberal candidates Dominic Casto (Timmins) and Kyle Allen (Mushkegowuk-James Bay).
TimminsToday attempted to contact the Liberal Party on Monday (Feb. 24) via email and phone but received no response.
Yelle, Jones, Casto, and Allen were all last-minute additions to the ballot.
The Progressive Conservative candidates have also been inconsistent in their engagement with local media.
George Pirie, the PC incumbent in Timmins, has not responded to interview requests.
Tory Delaurier, the Progressive Conservative candidate for Timiskaming-Cochrane, has only responded to select media requests.
In Mushkegowuk-James Bay, PC candidate Dave Plourde has talked to TimminsToday for a profile and responded to emailed questions.
Earlier this month, Timmins NDP candidate Corey Lepage called for a debate and urged Pirie to take part. No debates have been held in the riding.
SEE: At least one Timmins candidate wants a debate
Early in the election, a PC campaign worker told The Trillium that it is “against party policy” for their candidates to participate in local debates, a stance the party also took in the 2022 campaign.
In Timmins, five people are running. The candidates are Liberal Dominic Casto, New Blue David Farrell, NDP Corey Lepage, incumbent PC George Pirie, and Green Marie-Josée Yelle.
Mushkegowuk-James Bay has four people on the ballot, Liberal Kyle Allen, NDP Guy Bourgouin, Green Catherine Jones and PC Dave Plourde.
Five people are running in Timiskaming-Cochrane. The candidates are PC Tory Delaurier, Liberal Rick Ellsmere, New Blue Stephen MacLeod, Green Kris Rivard, and incumbent NDP John Vanthof.