Federal election debates would be incomplete without Green party Leader Elizabeth May. She has earned the right and Canadians deserve to hear her perspective.
The Conservatives and NDP are eager for their leaders to participate in debates leading up to this fall鈥檚 federal election, but some members of the 鈥渕ain鈥� parties are not eager to share that privilege with the smaller parties. They want to be able to contrast Prime Minister Stephen Harper, NDP Leader Tom Mulcair and Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau. They worry that too many participants will scatter the focus.
Trudeau, it should be noted, believes May should take part in the debates.
The decision is ultimately up to the consortium of TV networks that sets the rules, and it appears the networks would prefer to have fewer participants in the debates.
It鈥檚 of little consequence if leaders of the Bloc Qu茅b茅cois and the Forces et D茅mocratie party don鈥檛 take part, except perhaps in a francophone debate, because they have little presence outside of Quebec. While the Greens have only two members in Parliament, Green policies are gaining traction and approval in sa国际传媒.
May, the MP for Saanich-Gulf Islands as well as party leader, is respected for her hard work, her integrity and her ecumenical approach to issues. It鈥檚 tempting to speculate that other parties would want her excluded from debates because she might show up their leaders.
May was not allowed to take part in the 2011 election debate because the Green party had no MPs in the House of Commons. She was included in the 2008 debate after Liberal MP Blair Wilson crossed the floor, giving the Greens a member in the House.
Frank Graves, president of EKOS Polling, says his company鈥檚 tracking shows May is slowly becoming a household name in sa国际传媒.
鈥淚n 2009, one-third of Canadians did not feel able to express an opinion about her one way or another,鈥� Graves wrote in an article for the website iPolitics. 鈥淭oday, just 15 per cent are uncertain, and her approval and disapproval ratings have both grown by similar margins.鈥�
He said the Green party consistently receives the support of eight to 10 per cent of Canadians.
鈥淎t 47 points, May is statistically tied with Mulcair for the title of sa国际传媒鈥檚 most respected leader,鈥� wrote Graves. 鈥淩egionally, she is well-liked in British Columbia, Ontario and Atlantic sa国际传媒, although her standing in Quebec leaves something to be desired.
鈥淣evertheless, her Quebec-only approval ratings eclipse that of the Bloc Qu茅b茅cois leader; [Mario] Beaulieu is widely viewed with disapproval by those who鈥檝e heard of him. May is well-respected within the Liberal and NDP constituencies, although Conservative and Bloc Qu茅b茅cois supporters hold a more disparaging view.鈥�
EKOS Polling asked Canadians if they thought May should be part of any leadership debates, and respondents said yes, by a margin of nearly three to one.
鈥淢ost striking is the fact that this view is shared by Canadians of every political stripe 鈥� with majorities of each party鈥檚 supporters backing May鈥檚 participation in any 2015 federal election debates,鈥� Graves wrote.
鈥淲e make no attempt to judge the merits of allowing Elizabeth May to participate in a leaders鈥� debate. But the public has made up its mind; Canadians broadly see her as a strong leader and believe she should have a seat at the table.鈥�
Leadership debates are the most visible part of the election campaign. May has paid her dues in Parliament 鈥� fellow MPs voted her the hardest-working MP and the best constituency MP.
Not only does she deserve to take part in debates, but Canadians need to hear her as they decide where to cast their ballots.
