CBC is reporting that the Green Party’s leader Jim Harris is again threatening a lawsuit over being excluded from the national debate:
Leader Jim Harris said during a campaign stop in Charlottetown on Friday that his party had the support of 583,000 voters in the 2004 federal election, and there’s evidence the number will grow in the Jan. 23 vote.
[…]
He pointed out that the Bloc Quebecois was included in the debates for the 1993 election despite not being officially being recognized as a party.
If the Green Party were to obtain air time, it would seem only fair that that all other non-MP elected parties also be given an equal allotment. Link…
Ya, I agree. Why not have the leaders of the communist party and the weed party debate ?? Could make for an interesting debate thats for sure. Yeaaa right. Harris has to quite whining, his party does not have a seat and thus he shouldnt be in the debate.
Comment by mk. braaten — December 5, 2005 @ 4:22 pm
There is a difference between allowing the Green Party to debate, and allowing the Marijuana Party, the Communist Party, etc. This reason? The Green Party has actually garnered 4.3% of the vote according to Elections Canada. The next closest of the non-represented parties? 0.3%
Am I a Green supporter? Nope, but I think that in order for there to be change, viable alternatives need to be heard. Even if they don’t win a seat, they have won the support of enough people to have their voice heard.
And frankly, to people in 9/10 provinces and all 3 territories, what they have to say will be more relevant than what the BQ has to say, regardless of what you think of their policies.
Comment by AnteMeridian — December 6, 2005 @ 1:57 pm