Bring on the economic issues, say Greens

OTTAWA – Devoting an hour of this week’s televised leaders’ debates to economic issues is an excellent idea, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May said today.

While Mr. Harper’s attempt to meddle with the debate format the day before is transparently politically-motivated, the Green Party would welcome the opportunity to present its fiscally conservative, socially and environmentally progressive platform and to contrast it to Stephen Harper’s sorry record and backward ideas, Ms. May said.

The broadcast consortium that manages the French- and English-language debates says the Conservative Party has requested that half of each two-hour program be focused on the economy.

“We don’t really understand why Mr. Harper would want to expose himself for 60 minutes on an issue in which he truly is an emperor without clothes,” Ms. May said.
“But, if he’s willing, we’ll be more than happy to show Canadians the difference between our plan for a forward-looking, job-creating green economy and Mr. Harper’s polluting and rudderless course.

“In less than three years, the Conservatives have squandered the federal government surplus, undermined Canada’s global competitiveness and gutted essential programs, from the environment to food safety, so they can hand out meaningless tax cuts in a cynical attempt to buy votes,” Ms. May said.

“Now, Mr. Harper is making it clear he has absolutely no idea how to cope with the global economic crisis.

“If he wants an hour-long economic debate, he’s got one.”