Understanding Democracy

“There are many ways of understanding democracy,” said the Federal Appeals Court judge this morning during the session about whether a ruling to force the CRTC to include Ms. May in the televised leaders' debate could take effect. Despite popular outcry and the many voices calling for a review of the guidelines that the CRTC cooked up at the onset of election period, the judge made clear that he would not be swayed from his peculiar understanding of democracy.

He simply, and with very few words, threw out the request to expedite a ruling on Monday 11^th April.

To be fair, the judge, however openly prejudiced he was, seemed to realise that he was in a very difficult position. If he allowed the ruling, the consortium could scream about interference by government. If he disallowed the ruling, he would have to face accusations of partiality with leanings towards undemocratic powers, which have been shown to be swaying Canada off its course of reason, common sense and democracy.

By the end of the day we are left wondering what has happened to a country we felt was able to safeguard and protect our institutions, our poor, our marginalised and our minorities. Any broadcasting corporation that excludes voices, especially during this time when they have a clear mandate - a duty in fact - to provide and ensure equal treatment of all political parties is biased when it refuses to include a party that represents 6% of the people.

The Women’s Alliance Party stands by the Green Party’s legitimate demands, even more so that this party is led by a courageous woman who cares for the Canada we want. She ought to be invited to debate with the other leaders without bias and prejudice, instead of having to beg and fight for this right on behalf of the electorate.

WAP continues to stress that until Canadians wake up to the fact that the current FPTP electoral system is deeply flawed and accepts to have reform that will allow all votes to count, we will continue to suffer the inevitable erosion of our democratic space.

What it boils down to is that we, the citizens, have the right to receive information delivered in a fair and neutral way, to make crucial decisions for our future and the future of the next generation.

No matter what, it was a great media opportunity for Ms. May and the Greens. That, in itself, was good strategy!