Consortium and political parties blame each other for Green exclusion from debates: Greens call for public consortium meeting

NEW GLASGOW – The Green Party is calling for transparency on why Green Party Leader Elizabeth May is excluded from the televised leaders’ debates and is formally requesting the broadcast consortium to reconvene with all the parties present in public to determine who is responsible for the exclusion of the Green Party from the leaders’ debates.

“The broadcast consortium has laid blame squarely on the political parties for barring me from debating, yet the political parties claim the decision is entirely up to the consortium,” said Green Party leader Elizabeth May. “The Green Party proposes that a consortium meeting be held in public, with all players at the table, so that the question of who is responsible for this anti-democratic decision can be made clear.”

Ms. May said Canadians have expressed outrage at the decision to exclude the Green Party from the debates and at the secrecy surrounding debate inclusion negotiations.

“Closed-door discussions and secrecy do not equal democracy,” said Ms. May. “The consortium and other political parties must provide clarity to Canadians, the vast majority of whom want to see me in the debates. We suggest public meeting, including the Greens this time, to clear the air.”