RSS FeedUpdate: Greens to be Represented in Leaders’ Debates
Just moments ago it was announced that Elizabeth May, leader of the Green Party, will in fact be appearing in the upcoming televised election debates.
The consortium of broadcasters – representing the CBC, Radio-Canada, CTV, Global TV, and TVA – decided today to allow Ms. May to participate in the debates.
It’s no secret that the reason for May’s exclusion was the pressure brought to bear by the leaders of the other parties. Prime Minister Stephen Harper and NDP leader Jack Layton had threatened to boycott the debates if the Greens were allowed to participate.
It was claimed by the NDP and Conservatives that Elizabeth May was nothing more than Liberal leader Stephan Dion’s cheerleader, and that having both of them present at the same debates would unfairly skew the discussions.
While the Liberals and the Greens have indeed made strategic agreements to cooperate on some issues (and not to compete for a seat in May’s riding) they are still independent parties with independent agendas. Hopefully May’s participation in the debates will make this fact very clear to the Canadian public.
May cites the public outrage at the affront to democracy created by these “backroom threats” as the reason for the broadcasting commission’s change of heart:
“It’s grassroots power of the people,” she said.
“People from all walks of life were incensed … I had a lady this morning at the Pictou (N.S.) Tim Hortons say to me, ‘I’ve been Conservative all my life, I’m not voting Tory again,’ because she found it so offensive.”
(Source: CP)
After the NDP decided to back down from the boycott threat, the Tories quickly followed suit. Conservative spokesman Kory Teneycke took the opportunity to disown the policy, claiming that it was an NDP idea all along:
“It appears the NDP has changed their position. Our position has been to support the NDP on this point of principle. We are not going to be the only ones to boycott the debate,” [Conservative Spokesman Kory Teneycke] said.
(Source: Globe and Mail)
“The truth of the matter is the NDP took a position and we agreed to back them because we, like the NDP, thought that this was unfair on principle,” said Sen. Marjory LeBreton, the Conservative campaign co-chair.
“But if Jack Layton has decided to change his position, I mean, we’re not going to stand in the way of her participating in the debate.”
(Source: CP)
I for one am looking forward to a more democratic debate. It doesn’t matter which party you support; the more viewpoints and choices that Canadians are exposed to, the healthier our political process will be.
