Leader of Strength in Democracy (Forces et Démocratie) and candidate for Avignon — La Mitis — Matane — Matapédia, Jean-François Fortin, formally asks that his party be represented in the coming debates and announces the launch of a petition demanding that Strength in Democracy be duly invited.

 Jean-François Fortin indicated, “For years, the going rule was that all parties, Anglophone or Francophone, represented in the House of Commons at an election call were invited to debates. Whether in 1993 when Lucien Bouchard participated in debates even if the Bloc Québécois did not exist in the previous election, or in 2008 when the leader of the Green Party was able to participate in debates because a minister endorsed her banner just a few days before the election call, the rule was recognized and accepted. There is no reason to change this rule now”. [translation] 

He argued that, “Strength in Democracy now has three incumbents running in the election while the Green Party has three and the Bloc Québécois just one. If they have a place in the debates, we should too. It is not up to the media and major parties to judge the relevancy of Strength in Democracy, it is up to voters. Rather than invent new rules to exclude Strength in Democracy from televised leaders’ debates, the media and major parties should simply accept that all parties with members of Parliament in the House of Commons may be represented to present their vision. It is a question of respect for democracy.” [translation]   

The leader of Strength in Democracy, Jean-François Fortin concluded, “Democracy is not just a ‘show.’ It is primarily about the right of citizens to have access to information and a variety of views to make informed decisions. In this regard, the absence of Strength in Democracy is an unjustifiable decision from the perspective of advocates for rights to access to information”. [translation]

Here is a short version of the petition launched today:

• Given that citizens have the right to access accurate information and a variety of views to make informed choices during elections;

• Given that the known and accepted rule has always been to invite all parties represented in the House of Commons at election call to debates;

• Given that Strength in Democracy (Forces et Démocratie) has three candidates in the upcoming elections that are incumbent Members of Parliament compared to three for the Green Party and only one for the Bloc Québécois, and yet these two parties are invited to the debates;

• Given that all opposition parties support Forces et Démocratie’s participation in the debates;

• We, the undersigned, demand that Strength in Democracy (Forces et Démocratie) be invited to participate in the coming electoral debates.