Police escort 2 uninvited candidates out of Ottawa-Vanier byelection debate

Candidates from two fringe parties tried to join a debate for the provincial Ottawa-Vanier byelection, despite a lack of invitation, until police were called to escort them out on Thursday night.

• Focus on hydro rates, appetite for change in Ottawa-Vanier byelection

There are 11 candidates running to replace long-time Liberal MPP Madeleine Meilleur, but debate organizersonly invited candidates from the Liberal, Progressive Conservative, New Democrat and Green parties to the Knights of Columbus Hall on McArthur Avenue.

John Turmel, from thePauper Party of Ontario, and a man who legally changed his name to Above Znoneofthe, so that his name could appear at the bottom of the ballot for the None of the Above Party, joinedthe four invited candidates on stage.

AboveZnoneofthe,formerly known asSheldonBergson, originally changed his name to run in the Whitby-Oshawa byelectionlast February.

Even as those who came to watch the debate shouted for them to leave, the candidates remained on stageuntil police arrived and escorted them out.

The debate then started, 20 minutes late, focused on hydro rates and a potentialtruck tunnel under King Edward Avenue.

Ottawa-Vanier voters have elected a Liberal in 13 straight elections dating back to 1971, but the party has been harshly criticized for the province's rising hydro rates and opposition parties are trying to use that to their advantage.

Today is the last day of advance voting in theOttawa-Vanierbyelection, which will be held on Nov. 17.

Here is the complete list of candidates:

• Claude Bisson, New Democratic Party of Ontario
• Kevin Clarke, The Peoples Political Party
• Elizabeth de Viel Castel, Stop the New Sex-Ed Agenda
• Nathalie Des Rosiers, Ontario Liberal Party
• Dean T. Harris, Ontario Libertarian Party
• Andr Marin, Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario
• Stephanie McEvoy, Canadian Constituents' Party
• David McGruer, Freedom Party of Ontario
• Raphal Morin, Green Party of Ontario
• John Turmel, Pauper Party of Ontario
• Above Znoneofthe, None of the Above Party