With just over a week to go before Election Day, some local voters were looking forward to an all candidates forum in Edmonton Centre Saturday afternoon. But it was postponed when key players including Conservative candidate Laurie Hawn would not attend.

The focus of the forum at NorQuest College was to be on Aboriginal priorities and concerns.

"When we had the Aboriginal invitation to Laurie Hawn's office," said Victor Horseman with Treaty 8 First Nations. "We were disappointed that there was no reply coming from the PC's at all."

Hawn tells CTV News that he confirmed to organizers that he was not going to attend, but says he went to two other forums today.

"That happens all the time," said Hawn. "We probably have gotten 25 requests but you just can't do them all."

NDP candidate Louis Cardinal says that is not the case; that he hasn't been invited to the so-called 25 forum requests Hawn received. Cardinal says he only knows of eight other forums and has attended or committed to them all.

For the Aboriginal forum, the Liberals and the Green Party also committed their attendance.

Because the event was cancelled last night, Cardinal decided to go door-to-door to talk to voters on their doorstep instead. It was the same way Hawn spent his Saturday afternoon.

Candidates have 35 days to campaign; Hawn says it's a short period of time to reach as many voters as he can.

"You can meet more people, frankly at the doors," said Hawn. "You know in an evening we will hit 250 to 500 doors. It's really difficult to do that with a forum. Most of the folks that go have their minds made up anyway."

One voter who showed up to the event says she was disappointed the forum was postponed. Eunice Thompson was anxious to hear from all the candidates but says those who don't attend made a big mistake.

"If they don't show up," said Thompson. There goes our vote."

Organizers are trying to put together another aboriginal forum in the next couple of days. Hawn says if it works with his schedule, he will be there.

With files from CTV's Kevin Armstrong…