In The Name Of Democracy
The Bloc, Conservative, Liberal and New Democratic parties purport to stand up for democracy. If that were true, all should be demanding that the Green Party be included in the Election 2006 leadership debates, yet all are silent on this issue.
The Greens got six percent of the vote and as such have been funded by the taxpayer under the Elections Act. Even though I am not a member of the Green Party, I am a voting taxpayer and want to see open public debate include the Greens Party. Let the public decide, not some omnipotent, unelected and unaccountable group of broadcasters, decide if their ideas and leadership is of merit.
I can well understand why the NDP and Liberals might not want the Green Party at the debate; but surely we Conservatives would enjoy the Liberal – Green – NDP vote splitting which might come if Green leader Jim Harris is able to deliver a convincing performance.
Strategy aside – under the Elections Act significant public funds are directed to the Green Party; the party appears to be running candidates across the country – in every respect they meet the sniff test of a serious political force. The three senior national parties need to do more than bleat about democratic reform, they need to put what they preach into practice and demand inclusion of the Green Party in the national debates.
If you believe in democracy you can not pass on this one – sign the Green petition to the Broadcast Consortium.
And send a message to your party or better yet, to all parties, using their contact forms: