Introduction
The above tweet references an article in the National Post discussing Prime Minister Treudeau’s refusal to to participate in the MacLeans debate and the Munk debate. The general theme is that debates are an important part of Canada’s democratic process. As goes the existence and participation in debates, so goes the vibrancy of the democratic process.
I encourage you to read the article which follows …
Democracy in Canada – 2019
The 2019 Canadian Federal Election got off to a late start. It appears that the Trudeau Liberals wanted as short an election as possible. In general, there does not appear to be a lot of interest in or enthusiasm for this election.
For the most part the general public seems to have accepted that Canada is fundamentally a “Partyocracy”, that the the political parties are only interested in your vote and that their individual MPs serve the party and not their constituents. My impression is that (Jody Wilson Raybould and Jane Chillpott notwithstanding) there are fewer independent candidates. My impression is that the there are fewer campaign signs than in previous years.
I am also seeing advertising from fewer political parties in Canada. Some of the parties on the official list are likely to be de-registered soon. (Small parties are drowning in the bureaucracy imposed on the them by Elections Canada.)
That said, the newly formed “Peoples Party of Canada” has managed to run candidates in most ridings in Canada and is generating some excitement. Although the article in the National Post noted that:
It is next to impossible, as Maxime Bernier is fast finding out, to create a new political party capable of winning even one seat in parliament. The Greens are another case in point struggling, campaign after campaign, since 2011 to elect a second MP.
It’s revolutionary in Canada to have a political party that exists to serve the interests of its constituents.
The Tradition of Toronto Danforth Debates Continues
Toronto Danforth Debates was created in 2011 for two purposes:
1. To ensure that political debates do take place during elections (and sometimes outside of elections); and
2. To ensure that all candidates are invited to those debates.
As you know our debate will take place on October 8 – 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Don Mills United Church – 126 Oconnor. All the candidates have been or will be invited. We hope that each of those candidates will attend. We encourage all members of the public to attend. Although pre-registration is not required, you are encouraged to pre-register at eventbrite.ca.
Toronto Danforth – A Celebration of Democracy
In 2019 Toronto Danforth is a celebration of democracy for two reasons;
First – Eight COMMITTED Candidates – Five of whom have run before!
Toronto–Danforth 35-109
ABBOTT, Elizabeth
Animal Protection Party of Canada / Le Parti pour la Protection des Animaux du Canada – Ran in the 2015 Federal Election in Toronto Danforth
BYARD, Ivan
Communist Party of Canada / Parti communiste du Canada – Ran in the 2018 Ontario Election in Toronto Danforth
CHOUDHARY, Zia
Conservative Party of Canada / Parti conservateur du Canada
DABRUSIN, Julie – Sitting MP
Liberal Party of Canada / Parti libéral du Canada – Ran in the 2015 Federal Election in Toronto Danforth
DOS REMEDIOS, Tara
People’s Party of Canada / Parti populaire du Canada – First time Candidate for Peoples Party of Canada
KLADITIS, John
Independent / Indépendant(e) – Ran in the 2018 Ontario Election in Toronto Danforth
LEE, Min Sook
New Democratic Party / Nouveau Parti démocratique
TOLLEY, Chris
Green Party of Canada / Le Parti Vert du Canada – Ran in the 2015 Federal Election in Toronto Danforth
You can follow the candidate’s conversations on Twitter here.
Second – Five upcoming meetings/debates
October 1 and October 2
October 8 (Toronto Danforth Debates)
October 9
October 10
Democracy is NOT a “Spectator Sport”!
Thanks to the candidates, volunteers and the debate organizers for their contributions to Canada’s democratic process.
John Richardson – Toronto Danforth Debates
Toronto Danforth Debates - All Candidates Meeting 