Televised Speech by Party Leaders

% Green:
86.70
% Yellow:
9.80
% Red:
3.50
Voting Detail:
Plenary
% Ratified:
0.00

Party Commentary

This policy is consistent with Green Party policy on democracy and government accountability. The Green Party currently does not have a specific and explicit policy on federal political party leader debates.

Preamble

Whereas Canada’s political system confers many undeserved advantages on large political parties to the detriment of supporters of smaller parties

And whereas televised debates among party leaders have become a major factor in voters’ election decision-making

Operative

BE IT RESOLVED that GPC advocates debate participation by party leaders be mandatory.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that GPC advocates the equal time participation in leadership debates of the leaders of all registered parties which attracted at least 3 per cent of the national vote in the previous general election.

Sponsors:
William Michelson, Pauline Thompson, Mike Singer, Andrea Grochalova, Paul Gardner, Sinisa Markovic, Maureen Devine, Barry Mitchell, Linda Stitt, Donna Bowen-Willer, Kate Storey, Mark Daye, Gerry Gaydos, jan slakov, Danny Polifroni, Sharon Danley, Bob MacKie Robert, Brian Smallshaw, Ellen Michelson, John Deverell

Background

The impact of national televised leader debates can be large. After Elizabeth May appeared and performed well in the 2008 leader debates, Green Party candidates attracted 6.7 per cent of the national vote. When
broadcasters and other political parties refused her the opportunity to participate in 2011, the Green Party vote shared plunged to 3.9 per cent. In the interest of fairness and public information GPC advocates some free national television debate exposure for the leaders of all registered political parties.

As a practical matter GPC also recognizes the need for a threshold qualification for participation in the principal leadership debates. A qualifying threshold of 3 per cent of the national vote in the previous
election would provide a necessary distinction between political party leaders and local independent candidates.

Code

G14-P04

Proposal Type

Policy

Submitter Name

John Deverell

Party Commentary

This policy is consistent with Green Party policy on democracy and government accountability. The Green Party currently does not have a specific and explicit policy on federal political party leader debates.

Preamble

Whereas Canada’s political system confers many undeserved advantages on large political parties to the detriment of supporters of smaller parties

And whereas televised debates among party leaders have become a major factor in voters’ election decision-making

Operative

BE IT RESOLVED that GPC advocates debate participation by party leaders be mandatory.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that GPC advocates the equal time participation in leadership debates of the leaders of all registered parties which attracted at least 3 per cent of the national vote in the previous general election.

Sponsors

William Michelson, Pauline Thompson, Mike Singer, Andrea Grochalova, Paul Gardner, Sinisa Markovic, Maureen Devine, Barry Mitchell, Linda Stitt, Donna Bowen-Willer, Kate Storey, Mark Daye, Gerry Gaydos, jan slakov, Danny Polifroni, Sharon Danley, Bob MacKie Robert, Brian Smallshaw, Ellen Michelson, John Deverell

Background

The impact of national televised leader debates can be large. After Elizabeth May appeared and performed well in the 2008 leader debates, Green Party candidates attracted 6.7 per cent of the national vote. When
broadcasters and other political parties refused her the opportunity to participate in 2011, the Green Party vote shared plunged to 3.9 per cent. In the interest of fairness and public information GPC advocates some free national television debate exposure for the leaders of all registered political parties.

As a practical matter GPC also recognizes the need for a threshold qualification for participation in the principal leadership debates. A qualifying threshold of 3 per cent of the national vote in the previous
election would provide a necessary distinction between political party leaders and local independent candidates.