Greens 'will not hesitiate' to use courts to get into leaders' debate

TORONTO - The Green party will go to court if necessary to secure a spot for leader Elizabeth May in the televised leaders' debates for the upcoming federal election, the party said today.

"The courts will be used only if the Green party's strong arguments and public support are rebuffed by the media cartel," said Jim Harris, Green campaign chair and former leader. "However, we will not hesitate to go to the courts to defend democracy in Canada."

Harris said the media consortium that controls the debates has yet to assure the Green party that May will have a place at the podium. Lawyer Peter Rosenthal said the Greens will approach media outlets carrying the debates and the CRTC to insist networks provide equitable coverage during the election.

Last week, the Green party landed its first member of Parliament when Blair Wilson, an embattled former Liberal MP who was expelled from his party's caucus last year over allegations of improper spending, announced on Saturday he was joining the Greens.

May said at the time Blair's move would ensure that she could participate in the leaders' debates in the next election campaign.

"We have established ourselves as a party that cannot be described as fringe," May said. "We are a party whose ideas and policies are now in the mainstream."

Harris said Blair's presence gives the party the right to participate in the debates,.

"There is no democratic debate without the Green party's voice," said Harris. "The airwaves belong to Canadians and Canadians want to hear the Green party in the leaders' debates."

In 2006, the Green Party received more than 664,000 votes, but the party did not win a seat in the House of Commons.

Canwest News Service

Published: Wednesday, September 03, 2008