Greens held back some candidates despite giving full slate to debates commission

The Green Party has made a strategic decision not to run candidates in certain ridings, despite submitting a full slate of potential candidates to the commission responsible for organizing the leadership debates. According to Green Party Co-Leader Jonathan Pedneault, the party chose not to contest in over 100 ridings where they believed Conservatives were likely to win. Additionally, some candidates faced challenges filing with Elections Canada, leading to a discrepancy in the number of nominees.

One of the requirements to participate in this week’s leaders’ debates is for a party to endorse candidates in 90% of ridings. It remains unclear whether the Green Party’s decision not to run candidates in certain ridings will affect their eligibility to participate in the debates. The party had to submit their slate of candidates to the federal debates commission a week prior to the Elections Canada filing deadline of April 7.

Rod Leggett, a spokesperson for the Green Party, explained that some candidates encountered difficulties with local Elections Canada employees, known as returning officers. Issues with verifying nomination signatures arose as some returning officers did not have updated lists of electors, making it challenging for candidates to gather the required 100 signatures from voters in their riding.

Despite these challenges, the Green Party has been in communication with Elections Canada regarding concerns over the nomination process. While the list of candidates is considered final, the organization is investigating the matter. Elections Canada emphasized the importance of candidates submitting their nominations early and working closely with their local returning office to ensure all requirements are met.

The Leaders’ Debates Commission, responsible for organizing the French and English debates, defended their decision to invite the Green Party before the nomination deadline, citing the need for sufficient time to coordinate the debates. Despite not running candidates in all ridings, the Green Party will still be represented in this week’s leadership debates, with Pedneault set to participate.

Pedneault emphasized the importance of having the Green Party’s voice included in the debates, stating that it benefits Canadian democracy to have diverse perspectives discussing the future of the country. As the election campaign progresses, the Green Party remains committed to contributing to the national dialogue and advocating for their platform.