Debates commission defends inviting Greens despite party’s candidate shortage
Canada’s Leaders’ Debates Commission is standing by its decision to include Green Party co-leader Jonathan Pedneault in this week’s debates, despite the party falling short of meeting all the criteria.
According to the commission, parties must meet two out of three specific criteria in order to be invited to the debates. These criteria include having at least one sitting MP from the party, at least four percent national support in polls, and running candidates in 90 percent of all ridings.
The commission extended the invitation to the Green Party based on the fact that they had met the first and third criteria. However, the invitation was sent out before the deadline for candidates to finalize their nominations with Elections Canada.
Although the Green Party had initially submitted a list of 343 names in March, Elections Canada only listed 232 candidates running under the Green banner. This means that the party has candidates in approximately 68 percent of all ridings.
In response to criticism, a spokesperson for the commission stated that the decision was made well in advance of the election day to allow for the production of high-quality debates.
Jonathan Pedneault defended his party’s inclusion in the debates, stating that it benefits Canadian democracy to have diverse voices at the table discussing the future of the country. He also argued that the People’s Party of Canada should also be included in the debates, despite not receiving an invitation.
Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet expressed concern over Pedneault’s participation, questioning the decision based on the established rules. Blanchet raised the issue of reduced speaking time for other participants due to the inclusion of the Green Party.
The upcoming debates are scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, with the French-language debate taking place first, followed by the English debate. The inclusion of the Green Party in the debates continues to spark debate and discussion among party leaders and the public.
