Personally I can see why they would want to limit the debate to federally recognized parties (which requires I think 2% of the vote?) in order to limit the scope of the debate... for example I think there was close to 17 parties running in the riding I lived in while stationed in Ottawa two elections ago.

I think a change in format to where each of the participants was forced to follow the rules of debate would be nice... and avoid the constant interruptions and chatter...

I agree with Cooper. THough it would be funny to have all the leaders there...

Marxist-Lenist anyone?

Yeah but how can you call us a free and deocratic society when not everyone gets the chance to speak because it takes "tooo long"?

These debates don't have to be done in one night. That's why I said they can work on it. Obviously things would have to be changed to accomidate everyone. And maybe some parties won't want to speak, but they ALL should be given the right to have their say on national television.

Ha, this does remind me of one time. There was a Marxis-Lenist candidate on the Rogers cable access channel one election and she was sooooooooooooooooooooo boring I though I was going to poke my eyes out.
She spoke in a monotone and read from a piece of paper and didn't once look up at the camera.
Well no wonder you don't win! You bore all your voters to death!

What's the point if they only have 5 candidates in a riding in one region of the country? It's not like the BQ, who have candidates in every riding in Quebec.

One, it's the fair and democratic way to do things.

Two, the Green Party do have candidates in all ridings. How come they aren't allowed to speak?

The BQ will never be the ruling party in this country for the simple fact they ONLY have candidates in Quebec. There just isn't enough of them

They could have another debate the next featuring the party leaders from the other parties.
It would also bring Martin, and any other politician who thinks this way down a peg or 2. He had the nerve to be so arrogant and say that this election is only between 2 parties. While I think he's right, his arrogance is disgusting.

I think you're going to have to have at least three debates to fit in the 20 or so parties and their views (unless the more "minor" parties have their chance, but only have it air on CPAC).

I think airing it on CPAC is a good idea.
Now I know there are a ton of parties and having them all speak in the same debate wouldn't work.
Also, I doubt all parties would want to speak. They would probably think it was a waste of their time knowing full well they wouldn't get the audience the 4 major parties would.

I'm just saying, give them the opportunity to speak. I'm pretty sure the Green Party would love to be able to speak to the nation in a debate, and I think they should. Like I said before, they do have candidates in all ridings, and I think they are gaining more and more support. I'm pretty sure we'll see a Green party member in the HoP soon.

Green seems to be gaining support mostly by idealistic young people under 35. not that there's anything wrong with being an idealistic young person.

I think you're probably right that the majority of their supporters are young. But I think you'd be surprised how many older people are now supporting their party because they are sick and tired of the Conservatives, Liberals, and NDP.

You beat to the punch on this one :) - it seems ridiculous that the Bloq can take part in the National debate, eventhough they only have candidates in Quebec. It's unfair that the Greens weren't allowed to participate, considering they have a candidate in every riding throughout the country.

I was thinking about it this morning, how it is imperically impossible for the Bloq to be the ruling party in Canada, since they only have ridings in Quebec, and therefore aren't exposed to enough of the population to get elected.

I also would like to know how the Bloq ever became, at one time, the official opposition?

Purely the number of seats

I guess the next question is how did the Tories, lose so many seats when they run in the entire country and the Bloq only run in Quebec?

I guess too many people decided not to vote PC and too many people in Quebec voted BQ. Weird things happen!!!!!