The first debate of the coming election took place in the riding of Vancouver Point Grey minus the local Liberal candidate, Premier Christy Clark.
Andrew Wilkinson the Liberal candidate in nearby Vancouver Quilchena tried to pinch hit for the Premier but was banned from taking part.
"The way for the public to make up their minds about these things is to hear all sides of the story and tonight that didn't happen."
Wilkinson says Christy Clark couldn't make it because she is busy running the province.
Reporter "Hard to run a government if you lose your a seat."
"Well I think the point is that we didn't have sufficient notice of this event. I made myself available and the UBC audience that was here tonight did not hear the whole story."
Wilkinson says the reasoning baffles him.
"I don't know why we were excluded you would have to ask the student society that but it strikes me as odd that we have a provincial election six weeks from today and there is no opportunity for one of the two major parties to present its case."
NDP Candidate David Eby says Wilkinson should have been allowed to take part.
"I was a little disappointed but I am glad to know that in three weeks there may be an opportunity for us to have a debate with a Liberal representative there and I am sure we can get it ironed out by that time."
But Eby stopped short of saying he would boycott future debates if a Liberal isn't allowed to take part.
"I am committed to attending as many of these all candidate meetings as I can."
Eby says he would at some point like to actually debate the Premier in her own riding.
"Absolutely I wanted to hear from the Liberals. During the whole by-election I was incredibly disappointed that I was arguing with an empty chair about policy initiatives, what the Premier had planned."
The Liberal candidate from Vancouver Quilchena has in the past stepped in to debates in the premier's riding during an election.
For instance Colin Hansen has debated in place of former Premier Gordon Campbell in Vancouver Point Grey in past elections.
The Liberals say Christy Clark didn't have enough advance notice and was busy in "private meetings' and couldn't make it.
However student organizers at UBC say two invites were sent, the first a week ago.