Doug Ford declines to participate in Black Community Provincial Leaders Debate

Ontario PC Leader Doug Fordwill not beparticipatingin a provincial leaders' debate organized by the black community scheduled for April 11, CBCToronto has learned.

"Doug Ford has been meeting with Ontarians of every background and listening to their concerns," the statement reads. "Doug Ford will be a Premier for allOntariansand will bring relief to families, including those in the black community."

Debate organizers havealready secured the participation of all the other provincial leaders, including Premier Kathleen Wynne, NDPLeader Andrea Horwath and Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner.

Multiple attempts to reach Ford

Velma Morgan, interim chair of Operation Black Vote Canada, organized the debate with nine other black community groups andtold CBC News that there were multiple attempts to reach out to Ford.

The group received a response on March 23 saying Ford would not be able to participate , but only heard last Saturday that Ford would be in northern Ontario on the date of the event.

"We invited all the leaders to discuss the concerns of the Black community. We're disappointed that one of the leaders won't be there,"Morgan said. "We're missing out because Doug Ford could be the premier of the province."