Regina's only mayoralty forum charging admission

An all-candidates forum for the Regina mayoralty race is catching heat for charging citizens admission in what will be the only public event that brings all three candidates together in the same room.

The Regina and District Chamber of Commerce is hosting a breakfast Thursday with incumbent Pat Fiacco and challengers Linda White and Jim Elliott scheduled to speak.

'This excludes quite a large part of the population.' Matt Johnstone, president of Cathedral Area Community Association

Chamber of commerce members may attend by paying $25 per plate. Non-members are also welcome, at $45 per plate.

That arrangement is not sitting well with Matt Johnstone, president of the Cathedral Area Community Association, a neighbourhood group.

"Forty-five dollars a plate is a lot," Johnstone said. "I think it's unfortunate that this excludes quite a large part of the population."

Johnstone's group has been trying to organize a no-admission debate among candidates for Oct. 26.

Fiacco busy

Two of the mayoralty candidates, White and Elliott, have said they will participate.Pat Fiacco has not, saying he is too busy.

"There's only eight days left," Fiacco told CBC News on Tuesday. "Our campaign schedule is absolutely jam-packed. It's not like provincial or federal politics when the writ is dropped. We still have to maintain my mayoralty duties as well on top of campaigning."

Johnstone said he really wants Fiacco to take part in his event.

"I think it's imperative that the mayoral candidates make themselves available," Johnstone said. "To reach out to the public on the public's terms at least in some occasions."

Johnstone said the Cathredal Association's debate will only go ahead of Fiacco changes his mind.

Voters in Regina, and across Saskatchewan, vote on Oct. 28.