Most Canadians want May at leaders' debate

The Globe and Mail:

A majority of Canadians believe it is wrong to deny Green Party Leader Elizabeth May a seat at the federal party leaders debate, a recent poll suggests.

Nearly half – 48 per cent – of those surveyed over the past weekend by Nanos Research for The Globe and Mail said they support Ms. May’s inclusion in the pair of televised faceoffs among party leaders scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday of next week. Another 13 per cent said they “somewhat support” allowing her to take part.

Lawyer Peter Rosenthal will represent the Green Party in court in Ottawa on Tuesday to make the case that Ms. May should not be barred.

By the middle of Wednesday afternoon, nearly 117,000 people had signed a petition at the website DemandDemocraticDebates.ca in support of her taking part.

The Green Leader has also received some high-profile support. Former prime ministers Paul Martin and Joe Clark have both said she deserves to be included in the broadcasts that give the leaders an unequalled opportunity to make their case to voters.

CBC ombudsman Kirk LaPointe, Jean-Pierre Kingsley, who is the former head of Elections Canada, and writer Margaret Atwood have also endorsed her position.

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