Sent: Monday, April 21, 2025 at 5:11 PM
From: "Colin Carmichael" <[email protected]>
To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
Subject: Election Connections event on April 23
Mr. Smith,
First, I want to thank you for having the courage to put your name forward in this federal election. Putting yourself on a ballot is no small thing, and we commend your willingness to serve.
I’m reaching out today simply to ensure there’s no confusion ahead of our Election Connections candidate event on Wednesday, April 23, at the Clinton Town Hall. The Huron Chamber of Commerce and United Way Perth-Huron have established eligibility criteria for candidates based on the framework used by the federal Leaders’ Debates Commission. These criteria are designed to reflect the current political landscape and include thresholds such as representation in the House of Commons or a demonstrated minimum level of voter support in past elections or current polling. As an independent candidate, you do not meet these criteria and therefore won’t be included in the formal candidate rotation.
That said, we absolutely welcome you to attend the event as a member of the public. We believe your voice matters, and this event is fundamentally about creating meaningful dialogue between voters and candidates. We would be glad to see you there and hope you’ll join the conversation.
Thank you,
Colin Carmichael
Executive Director
Huron Chamber of Commerce
Connecting Community Leaders
519-440-0176 : [email protected]
From: "Colin Carmichael" <[email protected]>
To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
Subject: Election Connections event on April 23
Mr. Smith,
First, I want to thank you for having the courage to put your name forward in this federal election. Putting yourself on a ballot is no small thing, and we commend your willingness to serve.
I’m reaching out today simply to ensure there’s no confusion ahead of our Election Connections candidate event on Wednesday, April 23, at the Clinton Town Hall. The Huron Chamber of Commerce and United Way Perth-Huron have established eligibility criteria for candidates based on the framework used by the federal Leaders’ Debates Commission. These criteria are designed to reflect the current political landscape and include thresholds such as representation in the House of Commons or a demonstrated minimum level of voter support in past elections or current polling. As an independent candidate, you do not meet these criteria and therefore won’t be included in the formal candidate rotation.
That said, we absolutely welcome you to attend the event as a member of the public. We believe your voice matters, and this event is fundamentally about creating meaningful dialogue between voters and candidates. We would be glad to see you there and hope you’ll join the conversation.
Thank you,
Colin Carmichael
Executive Director
Huron Chamber of Commerce
Connecting Community Leaders
519-440-0176 : [email protected]
UPDATE AFTER EVENT:
"Upon arrival, all attendees, not just candidates, were asked to write their names on stickers. While I was doing so, I casually mentioned that I hadn’t been invited to speak and found a table to sit at. I expressed my concern to the table's moderator about not being included as a speaker. After a few minutes, the staff member left and later returned, at which point another set of tables was being arranged, and I was informed that I would be able to contribute. Overall, I believe the event went well, considering the circumstances.
After the event, I went to thank the staff member for arranging a table for me, but they mentioned they hadn’t been involved in that decision. I spoke with someone at the door, who was part of the Perth-Huron United Way, and the man who informed me I wasn’t invited was from the Huron Chamber of Commerce. Thankfully, it seems a decision was made to ensure all candidates were recognized, rather than excluding those who may not have had the same level of support." -Justin L. Smith
"Upon arrival, all attendees, not just candidates, were asked to write their names on stickers. While I was doing so, I casually mentioned that I hadn’t been invited to speak and found a table to sit at. I expressed my concern to the table's moderator about not being included as a speaker. After a few minutes, the staff member left and later returned, at which point another set of tables was being arranged, and I was informed that I would be able to contribute. Overall, I believe the event went well, considering the circumstances.
After the event, I went to thank the staff member for arranging a table for me, but they mentioned they hadn’t been involved in that decision. I spoke with someone at the door, who was part of the Perth-Huron United Way, and the man who informed me I wasn’t invited was from the Huron Chamber of Commerce. Thankfully, it seems a decision was made to ensure all candidates were recognized, rather than excluding those who may not have had the same level of support." -Justin L. Smith