A Commentary by Doug Draper
For three days in a row, starting this past August 17th, Canada’s national newspaper, The Globe and Mail, rain full page ads in the back of its front section, promoting the federal leaders’ debate The Globe will be hosting this coming September 17th.
Canada’s Green Party Leader Elizabeth May
“An epic fight four years in the making,” reads a headline for the ad above images of three, not four federal leaders. Missing and so far not invited to join in the Globe debate with Conservative Leader Stephen Harper, NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair and Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau is Canada’s Green Party Leader Elizabeth May- and that is not only unfair, it speaks poorly of a newspaper I otherwise have a great deal of respect for around the thoughtfulness and accuracy of its political coverage and commentary.
Elizabeth May is an MP from the Vancouver, B.C. area who has also engaged in the issues affecting Canada from her seat in the House of Commons four the past four years. She was allowed to participate in the first federal leaders’ debate hosted by Maclean’s magazine this past August 6th (and Maclean’s deserves credit for including her) and countless numbers of people who watched that debate said they were pleased she was there.
On a CBC Radios Cross Country Checkup phone-in program, broadcast in the days following the Maclean’s debate, several callers – some of them admitting that they would likely not be voting for the Green Party, said they believed May made a valuable contribution to such issues as climate change and the tar sands, health care, and jobs and the economy.
The Green Party of Canada recently circulated a media release featuring praise for May’s August 6th debate performance, including some from veteran columnist and National Post editor Andrew Coyne that reads; “Elizabeth May added fresh perspectives and proved she belongs in these debates. There is no reason to exclude her.”
By “these debates,” Coyne was referring to the Globe debate and at least two others that May has so far not been invited to participate in.
Indeed, the results of a national poll posted recently by The Ottawa Citizen indicated that 79 per cent of those Canadians surveyed would like to see May participate in all future debates.
Despite that, it’s as if the hosts of the coming debates have May and her party facing a game of double jeopardy that goes something like this; ‘The party isn’t polling high enough for May to share the same stage as the other leaders and it may never see its numbers increase enough if it isn’t allowed to share the stage.’
It’s the same kind of double jeopardy a number of other so-called ‘fringe parities’ have faced over the years in their effort to get media exposure. But the Green Party of Canada, which is running candidates in virtually every riding across the country and has captured as much as six per cent of the popular vote in past elections, hardly deserves to be treated like some fly-by-night party like the Rhinos of old.
The Greens have developed a detailed platform with many positions clearly at odds with those of the three mainstream parties – positions that challenge the other parties to consider a more progressive stance on environmental protection and other matters that affect every day Canadians’ lives.
Lest some out there wonder why I am taking the time to write this, let me get any speculation about party affiliations out of the way before someone fires in the inevitable ‘you must be a member of the party’ comment. I am not a member of the Green Party or any other political party for that matter. The paraphrase the late great Groucho Marx, I would never want to belong to any party that would have me as a member.
I am writing this because I still believe there is enough democracy left in Canada to make room for another party leader – especially one as caring for the country’s future as Elizabeth May – on the debate stage.
If you share my belief then join me in contacting the Globe and Mail’s public editor Sylvia Stead at sstead@globeandmail.com or call the paper at 1-416-585-5000 and demand that the newspaper be as fair as it is in its election coverage and invite Elizabeth May to participate in the debate.
Visit Niagara At Large at www.niagaraatlarge.com for more news and commentary.
(NOW IT IS YOUR TURN. Niagara At Large encourages you to share your views on this post. A reminder that we only post comments by individuals who share their first and last name with them.)
Niagara At Large 
Thank you for mentioning Sylvia Stead. I am in fairly constant contact with her regarding errors and corrections. She listens. We listened to the debate, and while there is no credible Green Candidate here, like so many writers to the Globe and Mail, she nailed the facts and remained strong and sure, while the others danced around each other.
We too get the Globe and Mail. But remember that in every last election anywhere, they plumped (David Walmley, The Managing Director overruled his Editorial Board) to go for the Conservatives. Think Prentice in Alberta, Hudak in Ontario, on and on. The Globe is now soley owned now by Woodbrige (the Ken Thomson clan) and utterly beholden to them and their political bosses. They may allow their columnists (Simpson, Martin, occasionally Renzetti, etc) to diss Harper and cronies, but will always say ‘stay the course’ with the Conservatives, I believe.
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The Canadian news media has always had a double standard when giving political parties access to the public. Kim Campbell and the Conservative Party were reduced to two seats in Parliament. after a disgruntled electorate tossed the Brian Mulrony bunch out of office Would the Canadian media say, “you are not an official party”, so you cannot participate in any debates. The voters would have given them hell. Let the voice of the Green Party be heard this election.!!!
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I find it unfair and appalling that the GLOBE & MAIL has not included Elizabeth May in their forthcoming debate. However it has now become understandable after reading the comments of Gail Benjafield.
I have suspected that either HARPER or a loyalty to the Conservative party was the motivator in the decision. Shame on David Walmsley and the Ken Thompson clan for wobbling the foundations of democracy to suit their favorites. Have any of them taken the trouble to interview her? I have and she is like a breath of fresh mountain air, very rare in Canadian politics.
There has to be more than a get rid of HARPER attitude in this election. Canada desperately needs honesty,ethics and integrity in the leader of our government. For 70 years I have been wasting my vote on red or blue and believing the promises. Does anything change? Never. Has anyone heard anything from the lips of the 3 leaders approved for debate about improving the lives of SENIORS?
Not one ever says anything about SENIORS except Elizabeth May. Well debate or not if I am wasting my vote anyway on blue or red I decided that this time it will be green. More than likely my last chance for change (88) years of age.
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Good on you, Don. It’s time for a change in how it’s done in Ottawa (and elsewhere).
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Excellently put!! I am going to copy what you said and post it to Facebook. Maybe my father of 83(a staunch Liberal) will consider it too!! Thanks!
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I agree with Mr Jardine.
Even if the Greens are there as thorns in the side of the other parties, their opinions are much needed and vital. I recall when only a decade ago the NDP was considered a fringe party. The more choice, the more chance that the public can make the demands necessary for our nation’s improvement.
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Called her and message left. Did others do so?
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Not really on topic here, but last year I asked Sylvia Stead who sat on their editorial board other than the lead Tony Keller. She was, for the first time, not allowed to say, although the Globe is full of references to people sitting down with “the editorial board.” So I kept asking, even askingTony Keller. No answer at all from him. With no answers forthcoming, I emailed David Walmsley and sent him my unanswered emails. What’s the big secret I asked? He arranged to phone me, as he did not wish to go online. An arrangement was made; he called; we talked for about 20 minutes and still he could not say who sat on his editorial board. “It is complicated” he said. Well I guess! Someone else should try to get that information from Sylvia Stead.
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As long as they exclude her I will once again vote for her party. I find democracy in Canada a joke.
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I have decided that if Elizabeth May is not included in future debates that I will not vote for any of the participants because, in my opinion, they are not pro democracy. I’ll vote for her !
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How sad that a newspaper with as high a reputation as the Globe and Mail should be party to such blatant discrimination. I understand that Harper declared that he did not want to debate with “that woman” but for the newspaper to pander to this type of pettiness is so disappointing. I expect more of an international paper than this. If a debate of the party leaders is worthwhile watching it should include all the party leaders regardless of their gender.
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Elizabeth May needs to be included in the Globe and Mail’s Federal Election debate on September 17th, and every televised debate until October 19th.
May’s performance in the MacLean’s debate was exceptional! She was polite, articulate and informed. She is clearly the only party leader who isn’t completely full of sh*t! In fact, the more opportunities that May is provided to publicly debate the issues, the more transparent those other charlatans become. People have to stop saying that a vote for the Green Party is a waste, when the real waste is that in the last Federal election only 61% of Canadians voted; the third lowest turnout in Canadian history!
Canadians are fair, inclusive and open to all points of view. To exclude May from any Federal Election debate would be unfair, exclusive and very un-Canadian.
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I have never voted Green before; however, I feel strongly that all 2015 Federal Election debates should include Ms. May. She has proven many times, including during the Maclean’s debate, that she is intelligent and articulate, has facts rather than rhetoric to back her statements and that her party has a strong multi-faceted platform. More Green MPs in Ottawa would go a long way to serving the interests of Canadians. I consider the Globe and Mail and any other Leaders’ Debate organizer barring her participation as very suspect. It is obvious that they are advancing the political agenda of those who control the organizations. As long as they bar Ms. May, I will not vote for any of the participating candidates. I will reject the manipulative contention of the Liberals and NDP that voting Green will allow another Conservative majority government. We happen to have an excellent GPC hopeful in our riding who is now getting my vote. I hope others do the same. No more lying BS from party leaders!
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So. Last comment. Please contact Sylvia Stead at sstead@globeandmail.com or David Walmlsey at dwalmsley globeandmail.com directly. Tell them. Now.
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Liberal leader Stéphane Dion indicated that the Green Party would be given input, but not a veto, over coalition policy and also left open the possibility of May being appointed to the Senate if Dion were to become prime minister.
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