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thepeel
Joined: 08 Aug 2004
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 Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 12:55 am Post subject: May doesn't belong in leaders debates, NDP say |
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May doesn't belong in leaders debates, NDP say
BRIAN LAGHI
From Wednesday's Globe and Mail
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May should not be allowed to take part in the leaders' debates in the next federal election campaign, two New Democratic Party MPs said yesterday as the political left continues to squabble over her electoral pact with the Liberals' St�phane Dion.
"I don't think we need her in the debate," said Charlie Angus, the party's MP for Timmins-James Bay. "Dion is obviously her leader. I don't think there really is a place for Elizabeth May. She's not giving us a clear enough alternative."
The NDP roundly rejected entreaties from Ms. May recently to take part in an electoral pact to not run candidates against her in the next election. Mr. Dion and Ms. May eventually agreed not to run candidates against each other in their respective ridings.
NDP Leader Jack Layton criticized the idea, although others on the left told The Globe yesterday that Mr. Layton should have considered it.
Related to this article
Mr. Angus was joined in his criticism by former party leader Alexa McDonough.
"It's pretty hard to distinguish now between the Grits and the Greens," Ms. McDonough said. "So I guess she can have her leader, St�phane Dion, speak for her in the debates. It seems an odd way to shrink down her party stature, but that's what she's done."
Mr. Dion has already suggested that Ms. May be allowed in the debate.
Mr. Dion's suggestion comes as the issue of the environment rocketed to the top of the electorate's concerns. The most recent poll for The Globe and Mail puts the Greens at about 9 per cent of voter support.
MP Peter Stoffer, while agreeing with Mr. Layton that his party should run a candidate against Ms. May in the riding of Central Nova, said he thought she had the right to take part in the debate.
"If Ms. May believes that Mr. Dion is the guy for the environment, then why doesn't she run as a Liberal," he asked.
Still, Mr. Stoffer said she has the right to be heard at the debate.
"I have no problems with her being in the televised debates, regardless of what happened in Central Nova. I honestly believe that she should have the right to be in the televised debate."
Meanwhile, Jim Laxer, a former party leadership candidate in the early 1970s and a political scientist, said he supports the idea of not running a candidate against Ms. May. A pact could help unite the opposition against Mr. Harper, Mr. Laxer said.
"I kind of think the deal is interesting because it's got some potential for a way for opposition parties who don't want to be divided up by Stephen Harper," he said.
He said Mr. Harper is dealing with the opposition against him piecemeal, which makes it difficult for the opposition to coalesce.
Mr. Laxer also said Ms. May should be part of the debate.
"I think she should be in the debate, but based on some kind of rule like 5 per cent [of the vote]," he said.
Mr. Laxer said the Greens, with 660,000 votes in the last election "clearly deserve a member of Parliament. . . . People should think of this on a higher level."
The party was not represented at the debates during the last election. Only parties with seats in Parliament and a comprehensive national platform were allowed last time.
Mr. Layton has said that the television networks decide who can take part. Typically, however, the networks require the agreement of all party leaders over who should be in on the contest.
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http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070418.wxndp18/BNStory/National/
I'm (apparently) an insensitive, right-winger, but I'd love to see the Greens do well. May has had some great interviews and she doesn't seem to be cut from the politicians cloth. Shame on the NDP for trying to keep her marginalized. |
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enns
Joined: 02 May 2006
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| Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 4:08 am Post subject: |
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The NDP is playing desperate politics, no question. However, I don't think the Green party should enter the debates for a couple reasons. First, May has officially endorsed Dion for PM, why do we need two Liberal supporters on stage? She would not attack or question him but rather serve as a mouthpiece for the Liberal platform; I don't see this as fair to the other parties. Second, they did only poll 4.5% of the vote in 2006 and do not hold a seat in parliament. The stage is crowded as is, letting more parties in will only add to that problem. And where do we stop if we let a party without a seat enter the debates, should the CHP be the next to enter?
Having said this, if the Green's current polling numbers play out in a Federal election, they should capture at least one seat and enter the debates in the following vote. |
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khyber
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Compunction Junction
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| Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 4:44 am Post subject: |
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| Second, they did only poll 4.5% of the vote in 2006 and do not hold a seat in parliament. The stage is crowded as is, letting more parties in will only add to that problem. And where do we stop if we let a party without a seat enter the debates, should the CHP be the next to enter? |
So what? Are you saying that "3" political parties should be able to express the diversity of opinions present within Canada?
Bah!
That's one step away from a 2 party system.
I thought that presence in a debate was determined by popular vote?
If the CHP (as much as I HATE their politics) get 8 % of the vote, why NOT let them be in the debate? |
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khyber
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Compunction Junction
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| Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 4:44 am Post subject: |
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| Second, they did only poll 4.5% of the vote in 2006 and do not hold a seat in parliament. The stage is crowded as is, letting more parties in will only add to that problem. And where do we stop if we let a party without a seat enter the debates, should the CHP be the next to enter? |
So what? Are you saying that "3" political parties should be able to express the diversity of opinions present within Canada?
Bah!
That's one step away from a 2 party system.
I thought that presence in a debate was determined by popular vote?
If the CHP (as much as I HATE their politics) get 8 % of the vote, why NOT let them be in the debate? |
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enns
Joined: 02 May 2006
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| Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 6:08 am Post subject: |
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Presence in the debate is not decided by popular vote, but rather by network executives. They require participants to have a seat in parliament in order to appear. They also typically require that all leaders agree on the other leaders participation; so Layton could very well veto May's entry. I don't agree with this process but I also don't see any compelling reason to allow the Green's a voice in the debate. Canada has many Federal parties, but the reality is that we can never facilitate all of them.
I find having 4 leaders on stage right now already seems congested, with not enough time for views to be expressed or extrapolated. But the system will take care of itself. If the Green's really do have the support of Canadians, they will win a seat in the next election(even with our out-of-date parliamentary system) and a spot in the next debate. My point is that no matter how hard we try, all opinions will never be able to make it to prime time. Where do we draw a line? |
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khyber
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Compunction Junction
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| Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2007 6:18 am Post subject: |
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thanks for clearing that up enns.
But from what I've read, BQ and GP have virtually identical popular numbers.
I guarantee getting them into the debate would have a PROFOUND impact on that parties success.
Perhaps they should consider changing the format of the debates...or having multiple debates where each candidate was permitted to attend an equal number of events. |
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