Green Party of Ontario launches campaign to include Mike Schreiner in Provincial Leaders’ Debate

Toronto, Ontario – With the Provincial Election less than 90 days away, the Green Party of Ontario has launched a campaign to include Mike Schreiner in Provincial Leaders’ debate.

“The Green Party of Ontario represents the views of hundreds of thousands of people in communities across the province,” said Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner. “We are determined to bring a fresh voice to Queen’s Park,  one that is focused not only on our well-being today, but for our children and grandchildren.”
 
In the 2007 general election, the Green Party of Ontario received 354,897 votes. Locally, Green Party candidates achieved results as high as 33.14%, including 18 second and third place results. Recent polling shows the Greens in close races with Progressive Conservative and Liberal candidates.
 
The online campaign is centred around LetMikeSpeak.ca, an online petition which the party plans to submit to the broadcasters by the end of the summer.
 
“We have yet to receive any replies to our requests from the representatives of the broadcasting companies in charge of the debates,” stated GPO Campaign Manager Becky Smit. “The decision-making process is still unclear but we plan to show that the public supports Mike’s inclusion in the debates.”
 
In 2008, public outcry in response to Elizabeth May’s exclusion from the Federal Leaders’ debate led to the reversal of the consortiums decision.
 
“The Leaders’ Debate is a pivotal part of the provincial campaign,” added Schreiner “The issues debated today will have a direct impact on our children’s future. There are vital questions to be asked of all the other parties and we are simply asking for the opportunity to have a voice on these issues.”
 
Buoyed by the election of Elizabeth May as our first Green MP earlier this year, the Green Party of Ontario is looking forward to electing their first MPPs in the fall election.

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Rebecca Harrison 
Director of Communications
Green Party of Ontario 
(c) 905-999-5479
(e) rebeccaharrison@gpo.ca