MONTREAL – The Green Party of Canada is calling on the leaders of the other parties in parliament, to boycott the TVA debate, scheduled October 2, as long as all party leaders are not included.

The Green Party is demanding that TVA and its parent company, Quebecor Media, respect the inclusion criteria established by the Leaders' Debates Commission.

In a letter to party leaders Justin Trudeau, Andrew Scheer, Jagmeet Singh and Yves-François Blanchet, Green Party leader Elizabeth May (MP, Saanich-Gulf Islands) says that the Greens have met the qualifying criteria of the Leaders' Debates Commission as well as the conventional rules of the last few decades.

“Our expectation of inclusion in the leaders’ debate is entirely legitimate,” she wrote. “The citizens of Quebec, and francophones across the country, deserve to have access to a full and fair debate that includes all leaders. Democracy – and fairness – demand it.”

Green Party deputy leader Daniel Green (Outremont) said that the TVA decision violates the democratic principle of full and fair debate on election issues. “By excluding Elizabeth May from the debate, TVA is failing to provide citizens with a real portrait of their options in the upcoming federal election,” he said. “It's even more disappointing given the intense interest in the climate emergency.”

# # #

For more information or to arrange an interview contact:

Rosie Emery

Press Secretary

613-562-4916x206

rosie.emery@greenparty.ca