Clarke upset at exclusion from debate

The newest entrant in the race to replace outgoing Premier Brad Wall is miffed about the Saskatchewan Party’s decision to leave him out of its fourth scheduled leadership debate this week.

Rob Clarke launched his campaign on Wednesday in Saskatoon and claims to have filed his nomination papers hours before the event held Thursday night in North Battleford, but was not allowed to participate.

“I was a little bit surprised, disappointed,” said Clarke, whose campaign provided the Saskatoon StarPhoenix with a screenshot that appears to show that the nomination was filed hours before the event.

The Sask. Party told attendees at the debate a different story.

Party president James Thorsteinson said during the event that while Clarke had announced his campaign, leadership and debate rules require that candidates be nominated for seven days before taking part in any debates.

“Mr. Clarke has yet to submit his papers, and they need to be reviewed and verified by the party office, as was with the other five candidates. Therefore, Mr. Clarke is not yet an officially nominated candidate, which is why he’s not taking part in tonight’s debate.”

Sask. Party executive director Patrick Bundrock said in a statement Clarke submitted his papers Friday, meaning he “was not yet an officially nominated candidate last night.”

The Sask. Party’s leadership campaign rules, which are posted on its website, say only officially nominated candidates can participate in its debates. Bundrock said in the statement candidates must be nominated for one week before being allowed to take part.

Clarke, a former Conservative MP who entered the race describing himself as the only true outsider among the candidates, questioned why the one-week debate rule has not been made public.

“I think it should be open and transparent,” he said, adding the party could have expedited its verification of his nomination papers .

Bundrock said in the statement Clarke is welcome participate in the party’s final two debates, which are scheduled for Nov. 30 in Weyburn and Dec. 7 in Regina, “assuming his nomination papers are in order.”