'Leaders scared to talk climate change' - Robinson

Sudbury Green Party candidate David Robinson went after Conservative Party leader Stephen Harper for refusing to debate Green leader Elizabeth May in a nationally televised leader’s debates organized by the Broadcast Consortium.

“It’s OK to be afraid, Steve: nobody wants to go up against Elizabeth on climate issues,” said Robinson. “Elizabeth May is witty, she knows her stuff and she is hammering away at issues that make you look very bad.”

Elizabeth May was invited by the national consortium of television broadcasters to participate in the English and French language leaders’ debates.

These debates have been held in every federal election since the 1960s. The Prime Minister did not participate. According to a Green Party press release, this is the first time that a Prime Minister seeking re-election has refused to participate in these nationally televised debates.

“It’s clear that Harper fears debating Elizabeth May,” said Robinson. “He has made a mess of the economy and he is the one of the world’s leading impediments to taking action on global warming.”

The Maclean’s magazine debate on Thursday, Aug. 6 at 8 p.m. is the only debate scheduled to include all four national party leaders.

“By getting the one debate with May out of the way early, Harper hopes to keep his climate-change policies out of the public view,” said Robinson.

“Harper is so far on the wrong side of history on environmental and civil rights issues, that he really can’t face May without looking like a bully.”

Broadcast consortium debate organizers vowed to hold the nationally televised debates with or without the Prime Minister, but a recent decision by New Democratic leader Tom Mulcair to pull out of the Broadcast Consortium’s debates has left NDP supporters reeling – and the future of the nationally televised debates in doubt.

“If I were Mulcair, I wouldn’t want to share a stage with Elizabeth May either,” said Robinson. “Faced with the prospect of having to go one-on-one with May on climate issues, Mulcair dropped out too.”

“Canadians want action on climate change. They know about the Conservatives' terrible track record. We Greens are trying to get across how weak-kneed the other parties are too. The others still can’t face the biggest issue of our times – climate change,” said Robinson.

Sudbury and Nickel Belt Greens will be gathering at ReThink Green on Thursday, Aug. 6 at 7:30 p.m. to discuss the election and watch the Maclean’s magazine debate. Members of the public are welcome to drop in.