The Liberal candidate for the "Barrie-Springwater-Oro Medonte" party issued a challenge on Sunday to all Progressive Conservative candidates, urging them to fill their reserved seats in debates across the province.

"Jeff Lehman," the outgoing mayor of Barrie, speaking on behalf of the Ontario Liberal Party on Sunday, accused his Conservative opponent, Attorney General "Doug Downey," and all Conservative candidates of skipping all-candidates discussions and meetings.

"We are here today because we are concerned about something our candidates see in the nominations across the province, and it seems PC candidates have been instructed not to attend all-candidates meetings and appear in the media, avoiding discussions, especially on issues where the government record is weak,"

Lehman said: "By avoiding these discussions, Doug Ford, Doug Downey, and other Conservatives take for granted the trust that people place in our institutions, in democracy."

"The basic test of leadership is to show up and accept accountability, listen to the public, answer questions, even uncomfortable questions."

Doug Ford, who is campaigning in Bracebridge this morning with local Conservative candidate Graydon Smith, says candidates were not asked to skip the debates.

Ford responded to the allegations: "Absolutely not. We have a great candidate, Doug Downey, the Attorney General, in Barrie." "Some candidates will want to have discussions and others will not participate in the discussion."

In a statement provided to CTV News, Doug Downey's campaign said the Liberal campaign is "falling apart."