RE: Undemocratic decisions around televised Leaders’ debate
Dear Hon. McGuinty;
Thank you for your long awaited response to our request for support of democratic debates.
However, your statement to the Canadian Press is inaccurate. There is no defined process for deciding which parties are included in the televised Leaders’ debate. The individual members of the media consortium make their decision behind closed doors and beyond public scrutiny.
The public – people from across the political spectrum in the thousands – have supported our inclusion in the televised Leaders’ debate. Any group of individuals responsible for ensuring fair and democratic debate should take into consideration the opinion of the voters they are serving.
In the interest of democratic debate and improved political discourse I urge you to reassess the confidence you have put in the consortium’s decision.
Regards,
Bill Hewitt
President of the GPO