Alex Reid

Last year, the Green Party of Canada was rebuffed by the Canadian television consortium to join the Federal Election debate. This year, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May says getting included is one of her top priorities.

Core Strategies, the Green Party’s official pollster, says that 77.2% were “strongly in favour” or “in favour” of allowing Ms. May to speak.

What’s more is that the survey also found that 84% of Bloc Québécois supporters supported Ms. May’s inclusion in the debate; trailing with 81% of NDP supporters, 76% of Liberal supporters and 66% of Conservative supporters, wanted to see the Greens equally included.

The television consortium says their rule is they will only allow leaders whose parties hold a seat in Parliament. Of course, it’s a catch 22. You can’t get elected in if you’re not present when there’s a debate.

Nearly two thirds (62%) of Canadians believe Stephen Harper and Jack Layton are worried about facing Elizabeth May in the debates.

Ms. May received 26% of the vote in a by-election in London, Ont. last November, the highest number of votes a Green candidate has ever received in Canada.