Elizabeth May Belongs in the Leaders Debate
I have to say I was pretty angry when media executives decided to deprive Elizabeth May of a spot in the debate because three party leaders were being foolish. Jack Layton’s party has been relegated to forth place in many bi-elections after May took the helm of the Green Party. That admittly sucks if you’re Layton. If I was Layton or a New Democrat this would make me uncomfortable too. If I were Stephen Harper watching Tories finish third to the Green Party in Ontario bi-elections would probably worry me too. But denying her a right to speak is wholly undemocratic. Stomping your feet and strong arming weak kneed media executives is not becoming of a leader either.
The Bloc runs candidates in only 75 of 308 ridings and Duceppe has a seat in the debate. The Green’s are running candidates in ridings, except Dion’s and have a current MP who although not elected as a Green is running under their banner for re-election. The Green’s receive the same public financing as all other political parties based on each vote they receive but Canadians do not have the same opportunity to hear where the Green Party stands on the issues. In 1993, the Reform Party had one MP as a result of a bi-election, the Bloc had not had a single MP elected under their banner. Both of their Leaders were allowed in the debate. Neither party had electoral records as impressive as the Green Party’s current record.
Don’t get me wrong, I am a devout Liberal, and will cast my vote in support of my local Liberal candidate, but I strongly believe all Canadians should be able to hear the views of all publicly financed political parties. Why should media executives and nervous party leaders decide who has a right to be heard? Why are media executives even deciding the rules for the Leader’s debate in the first place?
I would support Elections Canada, who determines who is a political party, who is entitled to issue tax receipts and who recieves public financing to also decide who participates in Leader’s Debates.
I do hope May finds a way to be heard. I would love to see her do something like live-blog her responses to questions posed to Leaders during the debates to allow Canadians to bypass the media and hear her views directly online. Failing that maybe she could find a media executive who is prepared to stand up to whining party leaders and their competitors and challenge the other party leaders to a live televised debate. I know Dion will be there. Have Harper, Layton and Duceppe duck debating the Leader of the fifth party if they are afraid to do so. That would be equally ridiculous.
Voters who are considering supporting the NDP or Conservatives should really take a look at how truly democratically minded their party leaders are. There is no greater threat to democracy than Leaders who only support democratic principles when it suits their purpose. I could not support someone who would go out of their way to purposely deprive one of their opponents from having an equality of opportunity in expressing their views. Let’s hope the good people of Central Nova send a strong message to Stephen Harper and Jack Layton by defeating Peter MacKay and telling those party leaders that they support basic tenets democracy, even if those leaders may not entirely. Harris Decima says 77% of Canadians believe May belongs in the debate, hopefully Central Nova conveys that message in their voting.
Harper, Layton and Duceppe are not by any stretch of the imagination visionary, but perhaps each could try out one of Voltaire’s most quoted concepts for the good of our country and it’s democracy when it comes to all of their opponents.
“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” – Voltaire
Tags: Democracy, Elizabeth May, Jack Layton, Stephane Dion, Stephen Harper, Voltaire
