Valrie Plante tells Coderre to 'bring it on,' participate in more debates

ProjetMontralmayoral candidateValriePlanteis criticizing her opponent, incumbent mayor Denis Coderrefor turning down several debate invitations, saying one in French and one in English is enough.

"My team has accepted all debates," Plantetold CBC News on Sunday. "When you do an election campaign, it's part of the deal to do debates. It's one of the basic principles of democracy."

I'm telling DenisCoderre, 'Come on, bring it on,'this is what Montrealerswant and that's what they deserve.- ValriePlante

Plantesaid the fact Coderredoesn't want to do more than the two faceoffsahead of the Nov. 5 municipal election shows "he's not willing to talk about his record."

Coderresaid he would only be participating in two debates one in French and one in English but Plante says the hour-long back-and-forthsaren't enough time to cover all the relevant subjects.

"I'm telling Denis Coderre, 'Come on, bring it on,'this is what Montrealers want and that's what they deserve," she said.

CBC Montreal requested a two-part debate between Projet Montral leaderPlante and incumbent Coderre to air on television and radio.

Plante's team agreed to both but Coderre'sdeclined.

The one in French is being puton by the Metropolitan Montreal Board of Trade at the Sheraton Centre, Oct. 19.

Both Planteand Coderre have said they will attend that one. As for the debate in English, Coderreis expected to attend one co-hostedby theMontreal Gazette,CJAD and CTV, for which the date has not been set.

Accordingquipe Coderre spokesperson Catherine Maurice, an English debate will take placeatConcordia'sOscar Peterson Hall. No more details are currently available.

"The mayor will do one big debate in French and in English. For the rest, we're focusing on our work in the field," said Marc-Andr Gosselin, another spokesperson.

Projet Montralhas been actively criticizingthe moveon social mediafollowing Coderre'srefusal.

The party posted on Twitter that "Montrealersdeserve to hear the two visions that we are offering them."

Coderrecountered, saying thatfor four years he's been attending events, meeting people and taking their questions.

"Yesterday we had seven events. I'm in the field all the time, working 16 hours a day so people know the greatness that we have here in Montreal," he said.

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According to Radio-Canada, Coderreand Plantereceived seven other debate invitations. Planteaccepted at least five of them.

In order to participate in a debate, candidates must have racked upat least 10 per cent of pollers' support and must represent a party with candidates in at least three electoral districts.