Organizers for an all candidates debate on post-secondary education issues have been forced to cancel the event because the BC Liberals have declined to participate in the debate. The event was organized by the Coalition for Public Education and was scheduled for Wednesday April 22, at the University of Victoria.

"We are extremely frustrated that the BC Liberals are not prepared to show up for this all-candidates debate," said Cindy Oliver, President of the Federation of Post-Secondary Educators (FPSE). The Federation, along with the Canadian Federation of Students, was organizing the April 22nd event. "They have been in office for eight years. They've made major changes to the post-secondary education system. Voters want to question their policies, but by being no-shows at this debate they are side-stepping that kind of scrutiny," Oliver added.

"The other major parties were prepared to participate, but the BC Liberals declined. That says a lot about how the BC Liberals are prepared to defend their record. At the very least, they should be prepared to address voters' questions in an open forum," Oliver concluded.