The Green Party and the debates
Thanks to the complicity of Steven Harper and Jack Layton the broadcast coalition that televises leadership debates decided not to include Elizabeth May, the leader of the Green Party. What a difference a day makes. Due to an outpouring of indignation by the Canadian public that decision has been reversed and she will be included after all.
The traditional reason for excluding the Green party hinged on the fact that they had no elected representatives in the House of Commons. After a former liberal, now independent MP, joined the Green Party they have one representative. This a back door way of gaining representation, but it is representation none the less.
The sad thing about Ms May's inclusion is that the ususally chaotic and incoherent shout fest that passes for the leadership debate in Canada will only be louder and more chaotic. If anything, the best idea would have been to leave Gilles Duceppe leader of the BQ out of the English language debate. The BQ only fields candidates in Quebec, they are a one issue party (the promotion of Quebec sovereignty).
Failing that let's hope the debate moderators are armed with stun guns to ensure that each candidate has time to answer a question and the debate is something more than shouts of indignation. It probably wouldn't be a bad idea to equip Jack Layton (Jack in the box) with a ball gag.
The traditional reason for excluding the Green party hinged on the fact that they had no elected representatives in the House of Commons. After a former liberal, now independent MP, joined the Green Party they have one representative. This a back door way of gaining representation, but it is representation none the less.
The sad thing about Ms May's inclusion is that the ususally chaotic and incoherent shout fest that passes for the leadership debate in Canada will only be louder and more chaotic. If anything, the best idea would have been to leave Gilles Duceppe leader of the BQ out of the English language debate. The BQ only fields candidates in Quebec, they are a one issue party (the promotion of Quebec sovereignty).
Failing that let's hope the debate moderators are armed with stun guns to ensure that each candidate has time to answer a question and the debate is something more than shouts of indignation. It probably wouldn't be a bad idea to equip Jack Layton (Jack in the box) with a ball gag.
posted by Greg at 4:01 PM
3 Comments:
This comment has been removed by the author.
True enough Greg.
Makes me nostalgic for the good ol day of finger pointing with Turner and Mulroney. This time round the one-on-one exchanges will likely fall prey to muddled chatter as everyone clammors to be heard. On the upside, May's a pretty feisty speaker which might elicit some fireworks. One can hope.
(eatyourkidsblog.blogspot.com)
Myles,
The funny thing is that things were so civilized during the Mulroney/Turner debate that we've forgotten there was a thrid voice that night - Ed Broadbent.
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