Demand Democratic Debates!

Aaaaaand….here we go with Canadian election madness.

A consortium of television networks has once again decided not to let the Green Party participate in the nationally televised debates for this election.

I call bullshit.

The consortium announced on Monday (as reported at the National Post):

Three parties opposed the Greens inclusion in the debate, the consortium said in a news release, “and it became clear that if the Green party were included, there would be no leaders’ debates.”

(Three parties, meaning everyone but the Liberals, I should add.)  The Green Party has a lot of support in Canada, and it deserves to be heard by the same audience as the other three major parties, as well as the Bloc Quebecois.  Over 660,000 Canadians voted for this party in the last federal election.  Does it sound right to you that they are being excluded?

I want to hear Elizabeth May take on Harper and Dion and Layton…she’s earned the right.  It’s undemocratic to shut her out.

If you agree, head on over to Demand Democratic Debates, a site the Green Party has set up to allow Canadians to join in their fight to participate in the nationally televised debates.  The petition will be sent to the presidents of the major Canadian networks, the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council and the Canadian Association of Broadcasters. There you can sign a petition demanding Ms. May be heard at the debates. There’s also a section for bloggers, where you can grab a badge to help the Green Party’s efforts.

(For a concise run-down of where each party stands with respect to environmental issues, head on over to BlogHers Act Canada to read my post, Go Green or Go Home: Canadian Election 2008.)

Update: Elizabeth May is in! I wonder just how much Layton and Harper’s 180 degree turnaround had to do with a certain lawsuit that was pending? Regardless, we’ll be able to hear her speak at the televised debates October 1 and 2.

(Cross-posted at Moms Speak Up.)