Appropriate dress and language required at Chamber debate

Cornwall Ontario — The Cornwall Chamber of Commerce will require candidates to sign a Guidelines agreement form to participate in their upcoming debate.

“All candidates are expected to dress appropriately. Also, all statements must be factual and specific to municipal issues facing the City of Cornwall. Misleading or slanderous comments will not be permitted. The moderator will stop a candidate for inappropriate comments. Responses to questions from either the moderator or, from the public in attendance must be specific to the question posed.”

In 2010 candidates for City Council and Mayor were not required to sign a document agreeing to the above terms.

Are the Chamber of Commerce guidelines reasonable or unfair? The Seeker welcomes your comments here and on social media.

The Cornwall and Area Chamber of Commerce will host an All Candidates Forum leading to the October 27 municipal election. The forum will be held on Wednesday, October 15th at the Cornwall Civic Complex beginning at 6:00 p.m. The forum will be televised live on TV Cogeco.

Here is the Guidelines document sent to Cornwall City Council candidates in its entirety:

ALL CANDIDATES FORUM

The Chamber, in conjunction with TV Cogeco will host the forum in Salon B of the Cornwall Civic Complex. The event is on Wednesday, October 15, will begin at 6:00 p.m. and end at 9:00 p.m. All candidates are asked to be present no later than 5:30 p.m.

Because of the logistical challenges facing the Chamber, and with the large number of Council candidates, each one will be given an opportunity to present individual platforms to both the audience, and to those viewing the event from home.  Each Council candidate will be allotted 2 minutes to present an election platform.

Once completed, all Council candidates will leave the stage and the Mayoralty candidates will be invited to their respective podiums. Guidelines for the forum are as follows:

Candidates for Council

• The order for statements from the candidates for Council will be selected by random draw.
• All statements must be factual and specific to municipal issues facing the City of Cornwall.
• Misleading or slanderous comments will not be permitted.
• The moderator will stop a candidate for inappropriate comments or, those exceeding time limits.

Candidates for Mayor

• The order for opening statements from candidates for Mayor will be selected by random draw. Closing statements will be in reverse order.
• During opening/closing statements and scrums, statements must be factual and specific to municipal issues facing the City of Cornwall.
• Misleading or slanderous comments will not be permitted.
• The moderator will stop a candidate for inappropriate comments or those exceeding the time limit.
• Responses to questions from either the moderator or, from the public in attendance must be specific to the question posed and esponded to within the allotted time.

ALL CANDIDATES ARE EXPECTED TO DRESS APPROPRIATELY. NO POLITICAL SIGNS, BUTTONS, HATS, INAPPROPRIATE APPAREL, ETC. OF ANY KIND WILL BE PERMITTED, AND THAT INCLUDES SUPPORTERS OF A GIVEN CANDIDATE. ANY CANDIDATE OR SUPPORTER FAILING TO ADHERE TO THESE GUIDELINES WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE FORUM AND/OR, FROM THE SALON.