Conservative Tracy Gray refuses invitation to debate Renee Wasylyk, saying it may be illegal

KELOWNA – Tracy Gray cited legal concerns in declining an invitation to a debate proposed by her rival Renee Wasylyk for the Conservative nomination for the Kelowna-Lake Country riding in the next federal election.

“I have been informed, based on multiple legal opinions, that this event may contravene the Canada Elections Act and is not a Kelowna-Lake Country Conservative EDA (Electoral District Association) sanctioned event,” she wrote in a letter to Wasylyk and copied to iNFOnews.ca. “I have been advised that participating in this event may hold me in contravention of the Canada Elections Act.”

Wasylyk responded to Gray's decision before she had seen a copy of her rival's letter.

"I set up the event through National," she said. "There is absolutely nothing illegal about this in any way shape or form and we’ve been very careful to make sure that it is not. Honestly, if she chooses not to come, it is not because it is illegal. It is because she is choosing not to come."

Earlier today, March 22, Wasylyk told iNFOnews.ca that the riding association (EDA) had scheduled a debate between the two candidates earlier but cancelled it on March 14 so she “picked up the charge” and booked her own event.

She sent an invitation to Gray earlier this week. Gray had refused to comment on her intentions until late this afternoon.

Wasylyk’s debate was scheduled for March 29. The vote is April 6. She also said earlier today that she would switch to a town hall format if Gray did not attend.

In her letter, Gray cited another reason for not attending.

“After a long seven months of campaigning which involved educating and providing information on platform issues that people care about, I believe the Conservative members of Kelowna-Lake Country are ready to vote,” she wrote.

Gray went on to add that “we cannot lose sight of the true opposition – a very expensive, hypocritical, scandalous Trudeau liberal government that needs to be held to account.”

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