Greens' Elizabeth May left out of Globe and Mail federal party leaders' debate

by Stephen Hui on July 10th, 2015 at 12:03 PM

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The Green Party of Canada is attacking the decisions of the organizers of two upcoming federal party leaders' debates to not extend invitations to Elizabeth May.

Both the Globe and Mail and Munk Debates don't have a spot for the Green leader and Saanich-Gulf Islands MP at their events, which will focus on the economy and foreign policy, respectively.

Julian Morelli, the Green party's director of communications, put out the following statement today (July 10):

The decision to exclude Elizabeth May from the Globe and Mail and Munk debates is unbelievable given that these two institutions proclaim to be fair, open, and unbiased. This is clearly not the case and Canadians need to know the facts.
It is coincidental that that only parties that support the fossil fuel industry and pipeline expansion are invited to these debates? Add to this that the Globe and Mail has in the past endorsed Stephen Harper – so it is not a neutral sponsor.
We are not begging to be in these debates, nor should we have to. This is about allowing all Canadians to hear the views from all major party leaders in an unscripted format - Canadians want a fair and open debate.

The Globe's vice-president of marketing has defended the newspaper's decision to exclude May.

"We believe our proposal, and the official parties invited, will lead to focused discussion on the Canadian economy," Sean Humphrey told the Canadian Press by email.

Meanwhile, May has agreed to particpate in leaders' debates being organized by a TV broadcasters' consortium and Maclean's, and another debate proposed by the Up for Debate alliance of women’s and other organizations

Comments

11 Comments

Green Party

Jul 10, 2015 at 12:46pm

Like, even if they were invited? What are they going to do about anything? All their interested in is a clean habitat for themselves.

She's a great debater.

Jul 10, 2015 at 2:34pm

Elizabeth May has been excluded because she was too informed, concise, and prepared during the last debate. She makes the PC look sluggish so they won't come out to play with her. She will make Justin Trudeau look like a schoolboy. The only conversation worth listening to would be between May and Mulcair.

ninigik

Jul 10, 2015 at 4:20pm

This is appalling.

joey Boyes

Jul 11, 2015 at 5:51am

Now May can dedicate more time to drinking and hanging out with Omar.

Hah

Jul 11, 2015 at 2:21pm

Well, If one of the most respected newspaper's in the country thinks the Green's are irrelevant, then that pretty much takes care of that. Maybe we are a little too isolated here in YogaWorld.

Phil Blaney

Jul 11, 2015 at 5:14pm

People should read the Globe and Mail Editorial Code of Conduct, and see the many ways they are violating it. From the Journalistic principles section." The Globe and Mail will seek to provide reasonable accounts of competing views in any controversy so as to enable readers to make up their own minds."
I think this may apply to Mr. Sean Humphrey statement "We believe our proposal, and the official parties invited, will lead to focused discussion on the Canadian economy." Again from the Globes Code of conduct Journalistic Principles section. "It is unacceptable to invent or falsify a quote, source, anecdote, detail or anything else pertaining to the news."
Then from the Social Media and Online Activity section "Political Activity: To the extent possible, the news operations of the Globe and Mail must be , and seem to be, impartial."
" The question is whether the proposed activity would tend to promote doubt about the Globe's impartiality."
These are but a small sample of what in my opinion are clear violations of the Globe and Mail's own Editorial Code of Conduct.

Phillip Blaney

Anonymous

Jul 11, 2015 at 8:07pm

This is disgraceful conduct by the Globe and Mail. As for wanting a focused economic debate they need to look again at Green Party economic policy to appreciate the fact that the combination of clarity and principled policy positions helps to sharpen the debate not weaken it.

E Lisbeth Donaldson

Jul 13, 2015 at 5:59pm

I have informed the G and M that I no longer think they are Canada's national newspaper. I want journalistic coverage of all serious political perspectives - and perhaps even an occasional satire. I don't have time to read a narrow spectrum - and that is where the G and M is heading. No wonder it is losing customers.

Buck Eldorado

Jul 13, 2015 at 6:49pm

Why should they invite some damn bloody yank carpetbagger to try and leave Canada's cheese out in the wind. I say deport Ms. May for her treasonous parles!