Picture this: a Canadian citizen wants to have his/her say by voting. But the powers that be decide that since the individual hasn’t participated in the democratic process before, their vote will not be counted.
Seems unfair, doesn’t it?
Regardless of race, creed, colour or any personal opinion, everyone has the right to a fair and democratic process.
While the above scenario is obviously for demonstration only, it mirrors the bullying-type antics that are going on in the upcoming federal election.
Green Party candidate Elizabeth May has been denied a voice in the televised leaders’ debate May 2.
The national broadcasters have stated May isn’t eligible to participate because her party doesn’t have a seat in Parliament.
Seems like a very undemocratic decision.
As a news provider, we know that fairness is key to getting the whole story out. Election coverage is no different. If there are five candidates running in an election, every one of them deserves a voice. You can’t just cover three or four of them and ignore the rest.
There have been cases locally where upwards of 30 candidates have run in municipal elections. And we’ve ensured that every single one of them was given the chance to state their platform in the local newspaper. Sure it’s a lot of extra work and space tied up, but it would be irresponsible to do otherwise.
Thousands, if not millions, tune into the televised debate to get a sense of what each leadership candidate has to offer.
Kicking May to the sidelines would be a disservice to democracy.
—Vernon Morning Star
