Published Thursday September 23rd, 2010

By: Times & Transcript staff

FREDERICTON - Green Party Leader Jack MacDougall says he might show up to watch CTV's live broadcast of a roundtable debate he wasn't invited to participate in.

The debate is scheduled to be broadcast live from St. Thomas University in Fredericton tonight during CTV's supper hour newscast, which begins at 6 p.m.

Liberal Leader Shawn Graham, Progressive Conservative Leader David Alward and NDP Leader Roger Duguay are expected to participate in the debate with CTV News anchor Steve Murphy moderating.

MacDougall and People's Alliance Leader Kris Austin weren't invited to participate in the debate. CTV says they made a decision to only invite leaders of parties having recent representation in the legislature, as well as leaders of parties fielding candidates in all 55 provincial ridings.

CTV did broadcast interviews this week with MacDougall and Austin ahead of tonight's debate. In his interview last night, MacDougall criticized CTV's decision not to invite him. Murphy defended CTV's decision to set rules on the roundtable before turning the conversation over to political matters.

Minutes after his interview, MacDougall said he might show up to watch the debates in person at STU.

"Why not ," he said.

The People's Alliance had no comment yesterday on their plans for the broadcast.