One of the two contenders to become the next Premier of Manitoba has accepted our invitation to address the campus radio audience.
"Dear Marty,
Steve Ashton would be honoured to appear in a debate on your radio station..." said spokeman Sel Burrows.
Today he emailed the campaign manager for opponent Greg Selinger:
"The two candidates have been invited to appear on Red River College radio for a friendly debate on Thursday at 4 pm. We are planning to appear on campus radio on Thursday at 4PM and we are open to debating Greg at that time for an hour, if he chooses to appear. Hope to see Greg on Thursday."
We have not yet heard from Mr. Selinger, who was personally invited to appear on the program when he announced his candidacy to run for leader of the NDP. If he accepts, The Great Canadian Talk Show will format a one hour debate between the two hopefuls with participation from Red River College students.
If Mr. Selinger does not accept, then we will conduct an interview with Mr. Ashton and ask him about matters relating to his position on governance, the economy, justice and poverty, and to explain how his administration would differentiate itself from that of outgoing Premier Gary Doer. That's tomorrow at 4 PM on 92.9 Kick-FM.
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Today on the show:
* Exclusive news about "the fractured relationship between the (Winnipeg Free Press) union leaders and the members (of CEP Local 191)", and exclusive details of the internicine battels that have driven the union into trusteeship on the verge of the newspaper eliminating the Sunday version of the broadsheet";
* The Winnipeg Police Service is under fire for having 6 cops investigate a supporter of the WiseUpWinnipeg.com campaign displaying warning signs near a photo radar van yesterday, when the department can't seem to find anyone to investigate vicious west-end gangbangers who tried to kill an off-duty security guard this weekend when he tried to protect a ward of CFS
* Lots more about CanWest stiffing newly-departed reporters Andrea Slobodian and Meera Bahadoosingh out of vacation and banked time pay because squirelling away $9.8Million for executives compensation as part of bankruptcy restructuring is just as legal as not paying the hired help. Or, as GM Tim Jones put it:
" The Company has a significant amount of debt, which it has been unable to address in light of the unprecedented economic environment and difficult financial markets.
As a result of the filing, the Company will not pay out any outstanding vacation payment owing to you.
We understand the significance of these changes for you, but the company has determined that these decisions are necessary at this time. You will be entitled to make a claim for any amounts owing to you in due course..."
