The Green Party deserves it

One of the highlights and most cherished part of any election in North America is indeed the televised debates. Not only, the candidates have to prepare for the same, but also the voters do look forward to the live telecasts. These debates are crucial in raising public awareness during election campaigns as it brings candidates on a common platform where by the voters get a chance to evaluate and understand the ideologies of the candidates, parties and their stand on crucial issues. Various TV channels go extra miles to conduct these debates and the candidates too don’t leave any stone unturned. The voters expect these debates to be as representative as possible. With elections in Ontario just around the corner, the Ontarians are indeeed looking forward to these televised debates, however their aspiration to have a fair representations of parties at these debates may remain just a desire, as the broadcast consortium consisting of CBC, CTV, Global, TVO, CPAC and CHCH has announced that only the Liberals, Progressive Conservatives and National Democratic Party would take part. The logic so given for this decision is that “The debates are open “to all party leaders running candidates in all Ontario ridings that currently have an elected MPP sitting in the provincial legislature.” The condition of having the candidates in all ridings may seem to be fair, but is doesn’t show all the contesting parties in a good light. There are 18 odd parties in Ontario that are registered, and one of them has done far better than other that it does demand a relook at the criteria for being not there at the debates. The Green party may not be able to fulfill the second part of the condition of have a sitting MPP, but they do have a far greater role in the politics of Canada. The Green Party doesn’t have a sitting MPP, but the party is being represented by Elizabeth May at House of Commons. The party has even larger role in British Columbia where in the provincial elections of 2017, the party was able to secure three seats and finally extended a support to NDP to form the government, and rightfully too as The Green Party had a 17% votes. In Ontario too The Green party had a voter support of 8% in 2007, though the support base did deplete in 2014 to 5%. However, the opinion polls now show a support base of 8 percent. All these factors set them apart from the other fringe parties and it does call for having The Green Party candidates at the debates. There are other reasons too. The Green movement is growing and has lot many concerned voters looking for worthwhile efforts on the part of the parties. Under provincial leader Mike Schreiner, the party has a full-fledged program that deals with a range of issues, in addition to having environment as the prime focus. Almost all parties do talk about the Green Cause but none is as focused as The Green Party, and Ontarians have witnessed that once the elections are over the concern for the environment by the government also takes a dip. Once The Green Party is at the debates, it would lead to an open discussion on the issue of environment and all the parties would get a chance to show their intent for the cause. At the same time, the Green Party would also be tested for their stance on other crucial issues concerning the province.
The broadcast consortium should reevaluate its decision of keeping the Green Party out of the debates. A ray of hope has come from Premier Kathleen Wynne as she has called on the consortium to reverse its initial decision and include The Green Party. NDP leader Andrea Horwath and populist front-running PC leader Doug Ford haven’t asked for the same. May be they would soon, and if they don’t they must be called to give an explanation on the same.
The Green Party deserves to be at the live debates, and Ontarians need to witness a fair representation.