The Battlefords Chamber of Commerce members socially-distanced at their first in-person board meeting since the start of the pandemic. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Election planning

Chamber looks into hosting candidates forums, with COVID-19 precautions

Sep 16, 2020 | 5:43 PM

The Battlefords Chamber of Commerce is looking into the possibility of hosting some type of candidates forums for the upcoming provincial and civic elections for the local area, while adhering to the province’s COVID-19 regulations.

The civic elections will take place Nov. 9, while the provincial election is expected to be held Oct. 26.

The chamber’s chief operating officer Linda Machniak said the organization is still determining the details.

She said in the past the chamber has typically held public forums.

“The last go-around on the civic election, we went to more of a meet and greet here at the chamber building,” she said. “But certainly COVID is providing us the opportunity to explore some new options.”

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The issue was discussed when the chamber held its board meeting Tuesday, with 11 people in attendance in total. This was the first in-person board meeting since the start of the pandemic in March. The board met online via Zoom in the spring before taking its regular summer break.

Machniak said the chamber believes it is still important to have the business community represented to the candidates at the provincial and municipal election levels.

One of the board members suggested using Facebook Live or another online platforms to broadcast candidates’ remarks and responses to questions.

The chamber is considering having three potential forums — one for candidates in the riding for the provincial election, and one each for hopefuls running in the North Battleford and Battleford elections.

“The question is how and when we do it,” Machniak said. “We may look to do a more interview-style as opposed to a debate where you have lots of people in front of the room, and in the room. There were some discussions of different options. We’ll certainly get those decisions made pretty quickly, knowing that the provincial writ may be dropped shortly, and the municipal election dates are set for nomination. So that gives us time to work on that plan.”

Chamber member Warren Williams said in an email to battlefordsNOW the organization hopes to bring awareness of candidates “to our membership, and by extension the public at large.”

“I do know our chamber staff and by extension the board of directors will do their very best to find a path forward,” he said.

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW