Coalition wants party leaders to debate women’s issues

A group of non-profit organizations is looking for a way to get women’s issues on the agenda during the election campaign after its plans for an all-party leaders debate fell through.

Thestar.com
Aug. 25, 2015
By Ben Spurr

A group of non-profit organizations is looking for a way to get women’s issues on the agenda during the federal election campaign after its plans for an all-party leaders debate fell through.

The coalition Up for Debate on Monday abandoned preparations for a debate on gender equality after Conservative Leader Stephen Harper and NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair declined to take part. Last year Mulcair had agreed to attend, but his party has since announced he will participate only in debates that Harper also contests.

On Tuesday, Up for Debate issued a press release announcing it’s exploring a new format that would see organizers pre-record a series of one-on-one interviews with the party leaders and release them to an audience at Toronto’s Isabel Bader Theatre on Sept. 21.

Up for Debate says Mulcair, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe, and Green Leader Elizabeth May have all agreed to the new format, but the group is still waiting for a response from the Conservatives.

“It’s obviously disappointing that our original idea didn’t materialize,” said coalition spokesperson Melanie Gallant, but she described the interview format as “a very acceptable alternative.” She noted that organizers had invited the party leaders to the revised event just two days ago, and they would give the Conservatives “a bit of time to get back to us.”

“We’ve definitely from the start opened the door for all five parties, and we do feel it’s important for all five parties to speak out,” she said.

Conservative party spokesperson Stephen Lecce didn’t respond directly when the Star asked whether Harper would consent to the interview. Instead Lecce issued a written statement that said, “We are doing more debates than in any election in recent history” and that Harper is meeting with the public “every day.”

NDP spokesperson Anne McGrath said in an email that her party was “very happy that the Up for Debate organizers are moving forward with one-on-one interviews” and “Mulcair will of course participate.” The NDP was publicly criticized Monday for not going ahead with the original event, but McGrath wrote that it was Harper who had “scuttled” the initial debate “by refusing to participate.”

Liberal spokesperson Kate Purchase in turn pointed the finger at Mulcair, who she accused of “pull(ing) out of his commitment.”

“We’re happy to participate in the interview series,” Purchase wrote in an email, “though of course, we felt a debate was a great format for Canadians to hear from all the Leaders on important issues facing women today.”

Up for Debate has identified three themes it would like the leaders to address: violence against women, gender-based economic inequality, and women’s leadership.

Upcoming leaders debates:

Sept. 17: On the economy, hosted by Globe and Mail and Google Canada

Sept. 24: In French, hosted by a broadcast consortium with La Presse, in Montreal

Sept. 28: Bilingual, on foreign policy, hosted by the Munk Debates, in Toronto

Oct. 2: In French, hosted by TVA.

View video link: http://bcove.me/e12ox44n