Morning thoughts over coffee: Democracy

What can I do? Write a Letter

Category: Social Justice

Good morning from sunny Halifax!

I'm sitting in one of my favourite espresso bars, overlooking one of the most beautiful parks in the city. Walking alongside Citadel Hill this morning, reading the Halifax Metro paper, there were articles upon articles on our municipal election, federal politics, and - hallelujah - the benefits of coffee.

Needless to say, I steered towards my drink of choice with only one thing on my mind: democracy and how we use it. I feel extremely privileged to live in a democratic society. I am thankful for the rights that I have and recognize that few in the world have the choices that I do. I feel grateful to have the ability to vote. I am thankful to have choice.

A decision was made yesterday afternoon that I think will affect all of us as Canadians and that was undemocratic in my mind. You may know this already: The Broadcast Consortium's announced yesterday that the Leader of the Green Party of Canada, Elizabeth May, would be excluded from the televised leadership debates that happen leading up to each federal election.

As a friend, relative, or colleague in my life - I want to share my thoughts on this with you.

I've voted for various political parties over the years. I have always voted on my principles and those of the candidate in my riding - never for a political party as a whole. I firmly believe in informing the public of the choices they have to select the people who will essentially represent them and their community in all levels of government.

I feel that yesterday's decision was undemocratic for a number of reasons: The Green Party has official status a national party, supported by the Federal Government, running candidates in every region in Canada for the past two elections. The Green Party has, in the last year, has gained as much support - and in some cases more - than other parties. The Green Party has, as of last week, a Member of Parliament currently sitting in the House of Commons.

And similar situations have occurred before: Preston Manning of the Reform Party of Canada was included in the 1993 leadership debates. At that point the Reform Party had one Member of Parliament in the House of Commons, but no official party status, and not running a full slate of candidates across the country.

Who makes this decision? The televised debates are organized by private television broadcasters. Harris-Decima national polls show that 77% of Canadians support the Green Party's inclusion in the debates. The Leaders of the New Democratic Party (NDP), the Liberals, the Bloc Quebecois, and the Conservatives were all asked their opinion on including the Green Party in the debates. Three of four of them said "no".

Today I am writing a letter similar to this to the Halifax Chronicle Herald, the Broadcast Consortium, the Bloc Quebecois, the Conservatives, and the NDP. I am writing a "thank you" letter to the Liberal party for agreeing on the inclusion of the Green Party. I am emailing my colleagues, friends and family in Canada. I am posting this letter on my Facebook profile.

Beyond that, I am thinking about the different ways in which we, as Canadians, exercise democracy and create social change. And perhaps most importantly, I am choosing to be a part of that democracy; I am voicing my concerns as a citizen. I am being me. Because I can. Because I value democracy. And because I care.

I encourage you to think about democracy today and to consider the role you do, and can, play in our democracy.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and please feel free to share this letter. Pertinent contact information is available below should you be interested.

Cold coffee awaits me! (In case you were wondering, 2 to 3 cups a day may decrease a woman's chances of death from numerous causes. Cheers to that!)

Most sincerely,

Zoë Caron


__________________________

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Stephen Harper:

Conservative Party of Canada
Election Headquarters
#1204 - 130 Albert Street
Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 5G4
Toll free: (866) 808-8407
Phone: (613) 755-2000
Fax at: (613) 755-2001
Email: pm@pm.gc.ca

Constituency Office
1600 - 90th Avenue SW
Suite A-203
Calgary, Alberta, T2V 5A8
Telephone: (403) 253-7990
Fax: (403) 253-8203

Hill Office
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario; K1A 0A6
Telephone: (613) 992-4211
Fax: (613) 941-6900


Jack Layton:

Canada's NDP
300 - 279 Laurier West
Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5J9
Phone: 613-236-3613
Toll Free: 1-866-525-2555
Fax: 613-230-9950
TTY: 1-866-776-7742
Email: Layton.J@parl.gc.ca

Constituency Office
221 Broadview Avenue
Suite 100 (Main Office)
Toronto, Ontario; M4M 2G3
Telephone: (416) 405-8914
Fax: (416) 405-8918

Hill Office
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0A6
Telephone: (613) 995-7224
Fax: (613) 995-4565

Gilles Duceppe:

Bloc Québécois
3730, boul. Crémazie Est
Montréal (Québec) H2A 1B4
Téléphone : 514 526-3000
Télécopieur : 514 526-2868
Email : Duceppe.G@parl.gc.ca

Constituency Office
1200 Papineau, # 350
Montreal, Québec; H2K 4R5
Telephone: (514) 522-1339
Fax: (514) 522-9899

Hill Office
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0A6
Telephone: (613) 992-6777
Fax: (613) 954-2121


Broadcast Consortium:

John Cruikshank, Publisher, CBC news
(416) 205-6300

Robert Hurst, President of CTV News
416-332-5000

Troy Reeb, Senior Vice President of News Canwest Global
(416) 967-1174

Pierre Dion, President, Groupe TVA Inc.
514-526-9251

Ronald Cohen, National Chair, Canadian Broadcast Standards Council
P.O. Box 3265, Station D Ottawa, ON K1P 6H8
613-233-4607

Glenn O'Farrell, President and CEO, Canadian Association of Broadcasters
P.O. Box 627, Stn. B Ottawa, ON K1P 5S2
613-233-4035 ext: 326

by zcaron