So it's to be yet another federal election. Whoopty-do. I doubt that this one will accomplish much more than the last. I've frequently stated the opinion that Canadian politicians simply need to DEAL (in both senses of the world) when it comes to minority governments. Compromising the views of all Canadians to come up with federal policy and laws that work well for everyone is good government and good democracy. But apparently the federal parties in Canada are more interested in dragging Canadians through another election than in sitting down and talking like adults.

In any case, one of the aspects making a bit of news is the Green Party. This election, the Liberals have decided not run a candidate in the riding of Green Party leader Elizabeth May, giving her a better chance of election. The Greens were insistent that May be allowed to participate in the televised leaders' debate. However, this idea was scrapped when Stephen Harper, Jack Layton, and Giles Duceppe all stated that they would boycott the debate if May was allowed to participate.

This is a story that's bound to be a contentious subject among Canadians. And while I'm really on the fence, I feel that the outcome is actually a good thing.

Do not misinterpret, but I feel that political diversity is a good thing. Within reason, more parties is good for Canadians. However, until a party has elected an MP on its own merits, it has not yet EARNED the right to participate in the leaders' debate. Otherwise, there's very little to stop someone from arguing that the leader of Canada's Marxist-Leninist party shouldn't be allowed to participate in the debates (one of their candidates did very well in the last election). The leaders' debate is a debate of Canada's political leaders, it is not a tool to promote disadvantaged political parties. When the Green Party elects its first MP, I will gladly call for the Greens to be included in a debate, but not before.