The change comes after the NDP and Conservatives bowed to public pressure and withdrew their threats to boycott the debates if May attends. The Conservatives, NDP and Bloc argue the Green Party should be excluded from debates because Elizabeth May has publicly endorsed Stéphane Dion and other Liberal candidates in the election.

Stéphane Dion has supported including May in the debates since the two parties formed an alliance last year.

The media consortium implied one or more political parties threatened to boycott the debates if the Green Party were included.

The Conservatives, NDP and Bloc all oppose including the Green Party in the debates, saying Elizabeth May is a Liberal proxy because she has endorsed Stéphane Dion and other Liberal candidates in the election.

The Liberal Party has advocated in favour of including the Green Party since the two parties formed an alliance last year.

May argues the Green Party has earned the right to be included in the debates now that Blair Wilson, a sitting Member of Parliament, has crossed the floor and joined the party.

]]> http://canuckpolitics.com/2008/09/02/green-party-leaders-debate/feed/ 16 CanuckPolitics http://canuckpolitics.com/2007/06/14/canada-and-climate-change-at-the-2007-g-8-meeting/ http://canuckpolitics.com/2007/06/14/canada-and-climate-change-at-the-2007-g-8-meeting/#comments Thu, 14 Jun 2007 08:50:52 +0000 CanuckPolitics http://canuckpolitics.com/?p=43 ]]> May 28 to June 8, 2007 – Prime Minister Stephen Harper takes Canada’s climate change plan to the G-8 meeting in Berlin, saying it can be an example to other nations of how a country can reduce greenhouse gases outside the Kyoto framework.

Harper pressed for an inclusive approach that would allow nations currently without Kyoto targets, who together produce 70% of the world’s greenhouse gases, to participate in an international agreement in the post-Kyoto round of negotiations.

Liberal leader Stéphane Dion, NDP leader Jack Layton, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, environmentalist David Suzuki continue their opposition to the government’s plan, saying Canada must meet its Kyoto targets beginning 2008.

Leaders at the G-8 agreed for the first time to work toward absolute cuts to greenhouse gas emissions.

Dion supports including May in the televised leaders debate, and pledges to fight for her in Central Nova during the next election.

I will fight for 307 Liberals, plus Elizabeth May.
- Stéphane Dion

May says she supports Dion for Prime Minister in order to prevent Harper from being re-elected. She compares Stephen Harper to George Bush,vowing to avoid a scenario such as the last US Presidential election when Ralph Nader split the vote and helped re-elect George Bush.

NPD leader Jack Layton objects to the alliance, saying it is anti-democratic, while Conservative Monty Solberg says its a sign of weak leadership.

May’s denies rumours that she made a deal with the Liberal Party so they would not run a candidate against her in Central Nova.

May also laments the loss of the former Progressive Conservative party, claiming the current Conservative party is too close to George Bush.

May advocates an activist role for the Environment Commissioner, saying the role should be one of political advocacy rather than a ‘value for money’ approach favoured by the Auditor General.

May also makes a case for including her in the national televised debate.

Mulroney is introduced at a dinner in his honor by Canadian comedy television personality Rick Mercer, Elizabeth May (now leader of the Green Party), Premier Jean Charest and Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Rick Mercer’s Introduction

Rick Mercer introduces Brian Mulroney as ‘The Greenest Prime Minister’ at an award dinner honoring his environmental achievements.

The environment has to be the ultimate non-partisan issue. For too long its been perceived as an issue of the left, and that certainly cannot continue to be. There’s just so many unfortunate stereotypes … On one hand you have the stereotype of a conservative who is strict and unforgiving. And then you have the stereotype of an environmentalist which is … nuts. But it turns out, when you merge these two stereotypes you end up with the Right Honourable Brian Mulroney.

Elizabeth May’s Introduction
Elizabeth May, then Executive Director of the Sierra Club and now leader of the Green Party of Canada, introduces Brian Mulroney.

Jean Charest’s Introduction
Jean Charest, former Mulroney Environment Minister, now Premier of Quebec, introduces Brian Mulroney.

Because of Brian Mulroney, the world got the best of Canada. And the world deserves the best of Canada again.

Stephen Harper’s Introduction
Prime Minister Harper introduces Brian Mulroney.

When Mr. Mulroney left public office in 1993, few would have predicted … that all these years later Mr. Mulroney would be honoured by he environmental movement, at head table with Sheila Copps, and introduced by a former lieutenant of the Reform party.

Brian Mulroney Accepts
Prime Minister Brian Mulroney accepts his award.

It doesn’t really matter what the process is, so long as the problem is addressed by firm national leadership. Where political will prevails, solutions will follow … So whether in the Kyoto framework or by some other means, Canada nevertheless must begin urgently reducing its own GHG [greenhouse gas] emissions.