Exclusion Of Green Party From Debate Angers Reader

10/09/2008 04:11
Don,

I tried to let this go all day thinking that I would cool down about it, but the more I thought about it, the angrier I got. I just had to write this letter to the editor to the local papers and figured I’d send you a copy as well. Am I out to lunch or is this totally absurd?

To the editor,

Two days into the campaign, and Steven Harper has already managed to lose my vote.  After more than 10 years of supporting the Reform, the Alliance, and until yesterday the Conservatives, I will have to find another party or candidate to vote for October 14th.  

No, it wasn’t a major policy statement on foreign affairs, healthcare, or even the environment that turned me off, but rather a childish move on day one of the election by little Stevie Harper.  It appears as if little Stevie has a hard time making new friends and doesn’t play very well with the other kids in the playground.   

I’m speaking of course of his recent refusal to take part in any on air debate which included Elizabeth May and the Green Party.  Now I don’t know very much about the Green Party, but I do know that they earned enough of the vote in the last election to receive official party status, and that they have every right to be included in the national debates.  In fact, even the national media conglomerates planed to include her in the debates until Harper informed them that he wouldn’t show up if the Green Party was there.  

His reasoning? Apparently the Green Party and the Liberals have agreed not to run candidates against each other in some ridings.  So what!  This type of political maneuvering has been going on for years and Harper should be above that.  Besides, the Bloc have a seat at the debate and they are only running candidates in one province!  As a former councilor,

I spend a lot of time defending politicians to the cynics as honest hard working people like you and I because for the most part that’s exactly what they are.  This crass move by Harper however flies in the face of all that it means to play fair and that is not the kind of leader or party I want heading up this great country.

Neil Korotash
St. Albert

SINC SAYS:

You of all people should know that one is entitled to their opinion on an given issue, including this one. I am most happy to use your letter today and you are likely not alone in your opinion.

I do not share your anger over the issue, however. The rule has always been that until a party elects an MP to Parliament, it is considered a "fringe" party and that is exactly where the Green Party sits right now. Our multi-party system is bad enough with four, never mind five major parties splitting the vote so badly we could very well wind up like Italy, sometimes nearly dysfunctional due to vote splitting.

I wish people who grew angry with the system would focus their anger on the Bloc in Quebec. Why in hell's name should a provincial party be allowed to run in a federal election and potentially be allowed to hold the role of her majesty's official opposition when their stated goal is to break up this "great country" as you call it?

If Canadians rose in anger over this situation and had it corrected to throw the Bloc out of the debates, and out of federal politics, they would be doing a far better thing than worrying about a fringe party like the Greens.

Thanks for writing with your viewpoint.


READER RESPONSE:

Neil is right on with his letter to the editor today!

Elke Blodgett