Kathleen Wynne challenges Doug Ford to at least 3 debates before June election

Kathleen Wynne has challenged her biggest rivalto three televised debates as the June 7 election date closes in.

In a letter addressed to Progressive Conservative leaderDoug Ford Wednesday, the Ontario premiersays thedebates will allow for "direct, unscripted discussions of the issues that confront our province's future."

The letter outlines two different instances in which Ford indicated an interest in takingWynneon.

"On March 12, you told media you could barely wait to discuss our competing plans saying...'she's good at what she does but she's never debated Doug Ford before,'" Wynnewrote.

"Last week on April 5th, you went even further and told media, that you expected, 'there are going to be two or three televised debates,'" the letter noted.

Ford tweeted out his response on Wednesday, taking a shot at the Liberal's over the sentencing of David Livingston, the formeraide to Wynne'sLiberal predecessor in the premier's office, Dalton McGuinty.

"We are not going to take lessons on transparency from the Liberals," PC spokesperson MelissaLantsmansaid in an email.

The premier's challenge comes hours before she is expected to face off against Andrea Horwath, leader of the provincial NDP, and Mike Schreiner, leader of Ontario's Green Party, in a debate organized by a coalition of community groupsat the Jamaican Canadian Association.

Fordturned down aninvitation to the debate last week, saying he'd be touringnorthern Ontario when the eventis held, but it was his comments toreporters about his relationship with the black communitythat garnered the most reaction.

"There's no other politician in this country, no other politician outside of Rob Ford, that has supported the black community more than I have," he told reporters last Thursday.

When asked for some examples, Ford said,"I brought 80 kids from the black community up to my cottage, every single year for the last three years. We have a great time," said Ford, calling the event the highlight of his summer.

Ford alsocommented on his eagerness to engage the premiere at the time. "I look forward to debating KathleenWynneany time, but right now we're travelling," he said.