Jack Layton enjoys skipping debates? I was unable to watch the debate, but from my NDP supporting friend, apparently he was present and was even the clear victor?
This is true. Most suspect that the orange wave was a result from Layton's awesome performance in both the English and French debate. The only leader who didn't make it to the debate was Elizabeth May, and that's because she wasn't allowed.
Ignattieff challenged Harper on a one-on-one debate, but Harper backed out. As for local debates here in British Columbia, most of the conservative candidates were no shows.
Not as much as Ignatieff is for forcing the election.
Ignatieff didn't force the election. The Liberals told the Conservatives they wouldn't support the budget, and the NDP said they would support it only if the conservatives tweaked the budget to secure retirement income etc. The Conservatives only needed the NDP's support to pass the budget, but refused to make concessions or try to compromise.
On the day of the vote, everybody knew the budget was going to be voted down. Knowing that the country was going to have an election anyways, Ignatieff tried passed a motion to find Stephen Harper in contempt of Parliament- in hopes that the public would react negatively to the Conservatives.
ANYWAYS, what I'm trying to say is that it was the Conservatives triggered the election. They were showing well in the polls, so for them, this was the perfect time to hold one. The Liberals found an election inevitable, tried to make the most of it - and failed.
