Musings on Greenwood

I’ve had a long day. I’m tired and cranky.

As a result, this will be short and sweet.

Elizabeth May and the Green Party have no seat in the House of Commons. Thus, she is not allowed to participate in the leaders debate.

I don’t really see what’s controversial about any of this. It has been the standing rule for electoral debates forever.

In 1988, the Reform Party fielded 50 candidates in the federal campaign but had no seats in Parliament. Preston Manning was not invited to the debate.

Five years later, Reform had a foothold in the House and he was welcome to take part in the class of 93.

If we let the Green Party into the debate now without any seat then we must allow the leaders of the Marijuana Party, the Christian Heritage Party, the Freedom Party, the Rhino Party, the Marxists, the Leninists, the Marxist-Leninists, the Communists (yes, those are four different parties I just listed) and any other party I may have missed.

Maybe it would be a good thing to have all the leaders square off so we have the biggest clash of ideas possible but that option isn’t even on the table. Elizabeth May simply wants a double standard.

So, to my friends and adversaries in the Green Party; all you need to do is elect just one seat somewhere to federal parliament. There’s 308 out there. Surely you can bag one.

When you do, your leader is welcome to the debate. Until then, no deal.

Ethan Rabidoux