The group of networks known as the broadcast consortium, including
CBC News, has
set the English-language debate for Thursday, Oct. 8, from 6 to 7:30
p.m. ET, and the French-language debate for Wednesday, Oct. 7, from
8 to 10 p.m. ET...... despite an
ongoing boycott by the Conservative Party.
In a news release, the consortium which includes CTV News, Global
News, Radio-Canada and Télé-Québec and CBC News, said the
broadcasters maintain their invitation to the Conservative Party, who
have thus far declined, to participate.
Some criticism has been heard regarding the time slot allocated,
particularly from the western provinces where it will be aired in the
late afternoon, however they will also be distributed to all social
media including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Vine, Google, YouTube,
and CPAC.
A number of other debates have been planned by various
organizations some of which have excluded both the Greens and the
Bloc. Most
notably Elizabeth May has not been invited to
an exchange of views on the economy hosted by the Globe and Mail
newspaper and Google Canada, nor one on foreign policy planned by the
Munk Debates.
May has however agreed to participate in the Aug. 6 leaders debate
organized by Maclean’s that will be broadcast on several television
and radio outlets and stream via Facebook and YouTube and has
received an invitation this week from the venerable Empire Club of
Canada to a debate with other party leaders on business and financial
issues – the same general focus as the Globe and Google event.
Julian
Morelli, Green Party Director of Communications said “The
decision to exclude Elizabeth May from the Globe and
Mail and Munk debates is unbelievable given that these
two institutions proclaim to be fair, open, and unbiased. “Is it
coincidental that only parties that support the fossil fuel industry
and pipeline expansion are invited to these debates? Add to
this that the Globe and Mail has in the past endorsed Stephen Harper
– so it is not a neutral sponsor.
In an effort to shame the two organizations into changing their
minds the Green Party has released
a series of emails between them selves and the
organizers
of these debates in which they point out “this
upcoming election will be the most unpredictable in history and one
that will have a lasting impact on the character and makeup of
Canada. At this time, public opinion suggests a minority government
is probable, which provides further rationale for the inclusion of
the Green Party as another voice in the development and
implementation of good public policy.”
They also refer to the letter send by Stephen Harper in 2008
supporting the inclusion of “parties with at least one Member of
Parliament elected” where he says:-
“The Conservative Party has always supported the concept of
televised national leaders’
debates during a federal election. The only condition that we have
attached has been the
participants represent parties with at least one Member of
Parliament elected under their
party banner. Having one elected member is not a high bar to
obtain and it helps to
ensure that the party leaders represent democratically elected
representatives in the
House of Commons.”
How things have change since then, now despite the Greens meeting
that criteria and Elizabeth May having led or been a significant
voice in the national conversation on a wide range of important
issues including C51, FIPA, democracy, proportional representation,
accountability and transparency, parliamentary reform, climate
change, etc she continues to be sidelined.
This despite the fact that she was also recognized this year as
“Best Orator” and in the two previous years as “Hardest Working
MP” as well as “Parliamentarian of the Year”.
It is unclear at this point whether Harper and May will face each
other directly in any debate and we wonder how much control Harper
has exerted over the G&M and Monk debates in this regard, what we
wonder is he scared of, guess there is no closet to hide in at the
G&M
Update – It appears that the Macleans’ magazine’s debate
scheduled to take place in Toronto on August 6th and
carried on City TV and CPAC will include Stephen Harper, Tom Mulcair,
Justin Trudeau and Elizabeth May. This is the only debate in which
all four leaders are scheduled to attend.
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6 comments:
The exclusion of May is the clearest indication yet that Macleans and the Globe are in Harper's pocket, Rural. I expected better from the Munk Centre.
The fact that May has been sidelined suggests to me once more of how afraid Harper is of genuine debate. This should send a strong message to all engaged voters.
Indeed, I suspect that all the other leaders are aware of Ms May's depth of knowledge of both parliamentary procedures and the various polices domestic and foreign that each propose which exceeds their own. Its hard to debate someone with a greater grasp of the subject than your self!
More then any other leader Harper is terrified of Elizabeth May. People should look very closely at what Harper does when he's afraid of something or someone. He hides!
I forgot to mention Rural, that the G & M and the Munk Centre are sanctioning Harpers cowardice. They seem to thinks it's okay for our Prime Minister to behave this way. Frankly I find it disgusting.
From Con MPs to the G&M those who condone the disdain shown for our democracy are just as guilty as he who does it, Pamela.
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