Dearest federal election candidates:
You are cordially invited to a United Steelworkers Local 2251 candidates debate.
It's on Wednesday, April 16 at 5.30 p.m. at the Royal Canadian Legion, William Merrifield Room, 96 Great Northern Rd.
If you're expecting Local 2251 President Mike Da Prat to hand-deliver you a gilt-edged invitation written in romantic calligraphy script, that's not going to happen.
This is your invitation, OK?
USW Local 2251 is the largest collective bargaining unit at Algoma Steel, representing 2,112 hourly workers.
In Sault Ste. Marie, its candidate debates are a pivotal part of any election, and Da Prat is cheesed off over what happened during the recent provincial election, when only one candidate showed up at the Steelworkers debate and others complained they hadn't been invited.
"We're not going to have the same fiasco we had the last time," Da Prat tells SooToday.
"It's up to the candidates to make sure they look to see if there's opportunities to participate. It's not up to us to run around and chase them.
"There was a number of complaints by a number of candidates that they didn't get a personal invitation, etc. It was a difficult process because all they had were websites and buttons to push that would get them to call you back. And they never did.
"We're providing an opportunity for candidates to explain their positions on issues, which is a benefit to them. We will advertise through SooToday and radio, and it's up to them or their committees to make sure that they attend. It's not going to be up to us to chase them.
"It's a benefit to them. It's an ability for them to attend and address the electorate. And it should be up to them to be cognizant of any advertised opportunities.
"And it's open to the public if they wish to attend . . . . We're not going to put up with the nonsense that happened the last time."
Da Prat says candidates will be invited to make an opening statement.
Questions will be allowed and a vote will be taken to endorse a candidate.