Some reflections on this petition: Surely, this must be one of the most ridiculous petitions in Canadian history. That we have to petition our leaders to show up to debates must be nigh unheard of in a western democracy. Granted, there are other debates occurring, and this is to be applauded. But the Consortium still have the largest stage in town, and it would behoove any leader wanting to be Prime Minister to show up. However, I was reflecting on three reasons why this petition is ridiculous: 1) Try explaining the current debacle to the women’s suffrage movements of a century ago. They fought so hard to get the universal right to vote (more on that in #3), now we have to petition our leaders to show up to nationally televised debates. Now, consider the Green Party, which has had to fight tooth and nail for a spot in the debates. Supposedly this is because they do not have enough seats in our “first past the post” system, when by proportional representation they should have close to 5% (15 seats). Currently being led by one of the most prominent women in Canadian politics, there is duel reason she ought to be invited. Not just because the Green Party has earned it, but because we are constantly asking “why are there not more women in politics?” It is ridiculous that our leaders are even questioning attending debates where May is invited, and more so if they do not insist she be invited to them all. 2) Try explaining to the veterans who liberated Europe from a dictator in WW2. Their struggle and sacrifice to deny that hate filled tyranny of totalitarian government any place in the world. What would they say to our leaders who cannot stomach the idea of showing up on a network they might not approve of, or that their poll numbers might suffer if they are not cast in a certain light based on the attendance of others? If you know a veteran, what do they say? What do our current veterans say who have sacrificed to try and make the world a slightly better place about these political games and manipulations? It is ridiculous that we cannot even seem to agree about how and where we are going to disagree when others have sacrificed so much for this system. 3) Try explaining this debacle to our First Nations neighbours. This last one is difficult for me, because I am aware of how incredibly ignorant I still am. I was unaware of this, but they did not gain the right to vote without exceptions and sacrifice until the 1960s. As of writing this, I have not yet seen a debate focused on the problems we have relating to First Nations people. There have always been great difficulties, but it appears we do not have great discussions between leaders on how they would try to fix the problems we share. We barely talk about missing women, we pay lip service to resource extraction deals, and we largely ignore the fastest growing part of Canada. It is ridiculous our leaders don’t talk more about this instead of what kind of debate to have and with whom. I say this petition is ridiculous, because there are so many important issues we should be talking about. Not about who is going to show up where, when, and why. Please keep sharing this petition. Let’s get this situation solved and move on. And make sure it does not happen again. I have just heard that there will be a second French debate, so we are making progress.