Conservative election candidate Mark Strahl will skip the second of two public all-candidates meetings on Tuesday, but he has a high-tech plan to connect with the public the next day.

On Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., telephones will ring in 35,000 households in the Chilliwack-Fraser Canyon riding--a call that, if answered, will allow constituents to take part in a townhall-style meeting.

Those who answer the call--or call in to a number to be provided before Wednesday--will be able to ask questions or listen in on the discussion.

"It just lets you get in contact with so many other people," Strahl's campaign manager Matthew Barker told the Times Monday. "There are probably thousands that will stay on the line."

Notwithstanding the high-tech campaigning, Strahl will miss the all-candidates meeting Tuesday evening at the University of the Fraser Valley "due to previously scheduled campaign commitments," according to a press release.

Strahl was not available to comment on Monday, but Barker told the Times it was unfortunate that he was unable to attend, although he could not say where Strahl would be "off the top of my head."

He added that if people have questions they are welcome to call Strahl's campaign office or send him an e-mail.

The organizer of the UFV debate said he was "very disappointed" Strahl would not be at the Tuesday meeting.

"I was really looking forward to having his opinions," UFV student life events assistant Desmond Devnich told the Times.

Asked if he thought Strahl's absence had anything to do with avoiding hard questions from a constituency that might be less Tory than, for example, the Chamber of Commerce, Devnich said he believes it was simply a scheduling matter.

"I don't think it was anything personal," he said. "There is also a city council meeting that night."

Strahl did attend a Rotary all-candidates meeting and planned on attending the Tuesday morning Probus Club meeting--both of which were not open to the public. He is also scheduled to attend the Chilliwack Chamber of Commerce all-candidates meeting Thursday at the Coast Hotel at 12:30 p.m.

In a press release, Strahl said the remainder of his time will be devoted to his full campaign schedule and getting out the Conservative message, which includes "lower taxes, cracking down on crime, getting rid of the gun registry and promoting family-friendly policies."

Recent candidate tweets:

- Strahl on Sunday: "Go Canucks Go! Stay Bruins Stay!"

- Janzen said her campaign had raised more money than any Liberal candidate in the past 40 years.

- O'Mahony commented on Adrian Dix's win as provincial NDP leader: "Congratulations Adrian!"

Jamie Hoskins (Green) commented Friday that Jack Layton overtook Stephen Harper for the largest campaign carbon footprint, but his leader, Elizabeth May has the lowest.

Then on Sunday he tweeted about May's whistlestop train tour: "Just back from Agassiz. We had signs, drums, coffee, Green supporters, and Elizabeth's hugs . . . can't get better than that!"