Mark Friesen will represent the People’s Party of Canada at a federal election debate in Saskatoon next week after defeating fellow candidate Guto Penteado in a shooting match.
The contest was held at a private residence — the party isn’t saying where exactly — after the Saskatoon Wildlife Federation put the kibosh on plans to use its shooting range east of the city .
Friesen’s five rounds, fired over a distance of about 60 yards, earned him 34 points while Penteado shot a total of 32 points, the latter’s campaign manager said in an email Tuesday night.
SWF Past President Robert Freberg told the Saskatoon StarPhoenix neither Friesen nor Penteado held memberships or asked permission to hold the event, which did not align with the federation’s mandate.
Maxime Bernier’s new political party is one of four federal parties confirmed to participate in the Greater Saskatoon Chamber of Commerce’s “Name Your Warrior” debate set for Sept. 10.
According to the business advocacy organization, the Conservative Party of Canada, New Democratic Party and the Green Party of Canada have also pledged to send a candidate to the event.
As of Wednesday morning, the Liberal Party of Canada and the Bloc Québécois, which has never run a candidate outside Quebec, have yet to confirm their plans to attend the debate at the Broadway Theatre.
The Conservatives currently hold 10 of the 14 federal electoral districts in Saskatchewan, only a few of which are expected to be in play when Canadians go to the polls late next month.
Only one of those is in Saskatoon. Saskatoon West, which is held by the NDP’s Sherri Benson, is expected to be a tight race between the incumbent and Conservative challenger Brad Redekopp.
The debate is scheduled to begin a 5 p.m. next Tuesday. Admission is free but registration is required.
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