Leaders arrive for debate

The provincial leaders debate takes place tonight. It’s the only televised debate of the campaign — and you can watch it right here on CHCH. Our coverage begins at 8pm and will continue until 10pm — with a half hour of post debate analysis. But just before 6, the leaders began to arrive at the studio where tonight’s debate will take place.

The CBC broadcast centre in Toronto is where the three main party leaders will square off in the only live televised debate in this campaign.

Liberal leader Kathleen Wynne was the first to arrive at shortly after 5. Wynne is said to be bracing for an onslaught of criticism from both Hudak and Horwath over her predecessor’s cancelling of the gas plants in Oakville in 2011.

PC leader Tim Hudak is taking some heat over his million jobs plan and the math behind it. So far the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation, and the OPP union have come out agains his proposals.

Hamilton native and NDP leader Andrea Horwath was last to arrive. Pundits praised Horwath for her performance during the 2011 leaders debate. In a recent interview, Horwath described herself as the Steeltown scrapper saying she would not shy away from the tough issues tonight.

The debate will consist of six segments with six topics. Each will begin with a question from a voter, followed by a one on one debate between two leaders and then open debate with all three.