The Cochef of the Green Party of Canada (PVC), Jonathan Pedneault, claims the resignation of the commission of the debates of the chiefs, while he says he is still assessing all the options at his disposal in connection with his exclusion from the debates.
The party learned Wednesday morning that he could no longer participate in the debates on Wednesday and Thursday, because he did not meet two of the three criteria established to obtain the invitation. The problem was in the number of applications, which were below the necessary threshold. Mr. Pedneault had admitted in an interview that it was a deliberate choice.
The party spent the day on Wednesday asking the commission to reconsider its decision, but the Greens were informed at the end of the day that it maintained it, Pedneault announced during a press conference on Thursday morning.
But a few hours before the debate in English, the Cochef did not seem to let go of the song. “We will reserve rights to look at all possible options, including legal options,” said Pedneault in Montreal.
“In the meantime, the only ethical and honorable thing on the part of the Commission would be to withdraw and resign. »»
The second and last debate, in English, will be presented on the CBC at 7 p.m.
Mr. Pedneault deplored that the Commission agreed to accredit five employees of the right media Rebel News.
“We allowed Rebel News to bother public space and create a form of [dérangement] From this debate by chiefs, but apparently in the eyes of the Commission, it was the Greens who would have been the problem, “he said.
“A given moment, you have to wake up, there, there is clearly a problem with the commission. »»
The Commission defends itself
In an interview on the show A whole morning On Radio-Canada’s radio, the director general of the commission, Michel Cormier, pleaded that what had changed the situation, were interviews with Mr. Pedneault, in which he had said that he had deliberately chosen not to present candidates in certain constituencies.
“If we start to withdraw candidates and deprive Canadians from the possibility of voting for our candidates, it violates the spirit of the debates,” he told animator Patrick Masbourian.
“We did not want this situation. Me, the last thing I wanted to do is find myself in a decision to disqualify the Green Party the day before the debates. »»
As for the accreditation of the five employees of Rebel News, Mr. Cormier said that the commission feared a prosecution.
Ambitious environment program
The party summoned the press Thursday morning to present its full electoral program, which includes all -out commitments, in particular on employment, trade, international affairs and defense.
If his commitments on these subjects are close to the left parties, those on transport and the environment prove to be particularly ambitious.
It aims, from 2030, the end of the sale of petrol vehicles. The party also offers to exempt from TPS all new or used carbon vehicles.
And in 2040, the Greens want terrestrial public transport to be entirely carbon. To do this, they suggest railway transport “the hub of public transport networks with light train and electric bus in each city and region”.
As for air and maritime transport, the party would defend the taxation of an international tax on aviation and maritime transport for industries to do their share.
On the environment in general, the party offers in particular to form a transpartisan climate firm, and to measure climatic progress each year in Parliament.
The Greens also want the government to stop subsidizing the fossil fuels industry and interrupts any construction linked to this industry.
The party would also mandate the Canada Infrastructure Bank to devote 50 % of its investments to climate resilience projects.
“As part of our plan for the future of transport in Canada, we are committed to decarbonizing public transport and the transport of goods as well as to ensure the necessary transition far from internal combustion engines for passenger vehicles,” you can read in the program of more than 100 pages.
“The transition to carbonulates is essential and expected for too long. »»
