Women's issues are up for debate tonight as the YWCA hosts the Sudbury riding candidates, facing off over issues of rights and gender equity.
Set for 7 p.m. this evening at the Sudbury Theatre Centre, only the candidates from the four main parties (Liberal, Conservative, NDP and Green) have been invited as has the People's Party of Canada candidate.
Moderated by YWCA board chair Shaelyn Savignac, candidates will respond to questions on violence and harassment, housing and homelessness, affordable childcare, missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, women's economic security and reproductive rights, among other issues.
There hasn't been a federal leaders debate on women's rights since 1984, and YWCA Canada aimed to push the party leaders to commit to a national televised debate on the topic.
That hasn't happened, but YWCAs across the country are hosting their own events with their local candidates to bring issues particular to female voters to the fore.
"We want to find out where the candidates stand on issues that are important to women and their families," said Marlene Gorman, the executive director of the Sudbury YWCA told Sudbury.com today.
The event is free and the public is encouraged to attend.
A panel of people will be asking individual questions of the candidates, who are given two minutes to respond. The candidates have a further two minutes at the end of the debate for closing remarks.
