Let Maxime Bernier Debate

Those of you who answered the previous Call To Action to write to the Leader's Debate Commissioner, regarding Maxime Bernier being banned from the Electoral Debates, may have received the recent reply (see below) from Michel Cormier, Executive Director. The reply is rubbish and deceptive and they must be called out on it.

The "Independent" Committee, which was created by the "Liberals", intentionally made it impossible for Mr. Bernier to participate in the debates.

Mr. Bernier qualifies in the eyes of the nation as he has candidates in over 90% of electoral districts (a miraculous accomplishment in less than a year) and he is an elected Member of Parliament.

The crux is that the "Independent" committee created an intentional technicality in the criteria to make it impossible for Mr. Bernier to qualify.

Mr. Bernier is indeed an elected MP...but the committee added...."as a member of that party". Since the People's Party is new and Mr. Bernier was elected as a Conservative MP...it is impossible for him to qualify for this specific criteria. Why would the committee feel a need to add this point if they weren't looking to sabotage Mr. Bernier's chances to debate?

i. at the time the general election is called, the party is represented in the House of Commons by a Member of Parliament who was elected as a member of that party.

In response to backlash from the public and the PPC, the LDC is requesting that Mr. Bernier somehow see into the future and pick 5 ridings wherein the party feels candidates would be elected in order to meet criteria (iii). (see below) ...and then maybe...just maybe the LDC will approve them. What nonsense...is the PPC clairvoyant? Could anyone foresee Trump's magnificent win?

This committee is a front group for the Liberals. More of our tax dollars wasted on tomfoolery.

Whether you support Bernier or not...this is an attack against our democracy and the actions of a totalitarian, socialist, dictator who wants to shut down much needed conversation on issues of mass immigration and protecting our sovereignty.

Please contact the debates commissioner David Johnston and Michel Cormier, and demand they permit Mr. Bernier to debate. Either sign and send the response provided below or create your own...but please take action.

info@debates-debats.ca

jaanu.varaprasatham@debates-debats.ca

THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS CANADA!

Please Remember to Delete all Instructions above the Line....

Dear Mr. Johnston and Michel Cormier,

The following reply from the Debates Commission, with all due respect, is hogwash.

It is obvious that the Debates Commission worded the criteria with the sole purpose of sabotaging the People's Party of Canada's leader, Mr. Maxime Bernier, from being able to qualify. The conduct of the Leader's Debate Commission is shameful and transparent.

Therefore, I request the LDC cease and desist these games and request, once again, that Mr. Bernier be extended an invitation to the upcoming televised leaders debates and in so doing uphold the integrity of our democracy and allow voters go to the polls having been well informed of each party's platform.

If not, there will be a boycott of the debates and I am wondering how your advertisers will feel about this.

Regards,

Action4Canada Team

Email from Michel Cormier:

Thank you for taking the time to contact us. This is an important matter, and we appreciate you writing to us with your views.

The Leaders' Debates Commission has not yet made a decision about whether the People's Party of Canada satisfies enough criteria to be invited to participate in the federal leaders' debates.

The criteria for participation were specified in the Order in Council (OIC).that created the Commission.

As outlined in section 2(b) of the OIC, invitations to participate in the leaders' debates are to be extended to "the leader of each political party that meetstwoof the following criteria":

i. at the time the general election is called, the party is represented in the House of Commons by a Member of Parliament who was elected as a member of that party,

ii. the Debates Commissioner considers that the party intends to endorse candidates in at least 90% of electoral districts in the general election in question,

iii. (a) the party's candidates for the most recent general election received at that election at least 4% of the number of valid votes cast or, (b) based on the recent political context, public opinion polls and previous general election results, the Debates Commissioner considers that candidates endorsed by the party have a legitimate chance to be elected in the general election in question.

The People's Party of Canada was not in existence during the last federal election, so they don't qualifying under criteria (i) "the party is represented in the House of Commons by a Member of Parliament who was elected as a member of that party" or criteria (iii)(a) "the party's candidates for the most recent general election received at that election at least 4% of the number of valid votes cast"

That means the party must demonstrate that it satisfies the two remaining criteria.

We have concluded that the People's Party of Canada satisfies the condition that requires fielding candidates in 90% of the ridings.

But - at this time - the Commission has not yet seen sufficient evidence to conclude that the People's Party of Canada has a legitimate chance of electing more than one candidate in the next federal election. This is a preliminary assessment. The Commission will continue to evaluate the People's Party of Canada's qualification under the participation criteria. We have asked the People's Party of Canada to submit additional information to the Commission to assist us in this task. On August 23rd the People's Party of Canada submitted a list of five ridings that they believe are the most likely to elect a candidate. The Commission will seek additional information on the legitimate chance of candidates endorsed by the People's Party of Canada being elected in any of those identified ridings.

Moving forward:

September 9th: Deadline for the People's Party of Canada to submit any other information to the Commission (additional to the riding information) that they may deem necessary for the Commission to consider regarding participation.

September 16th: The Commission to publish a final list of participants.

Again, I want to make clear that the Commission has not yet made a decision about whether the People's Party of Canada satisfies enough criteria to be invited. We believe it is too early to make that determination. We will publish a final list of invited parties by September 16.

Finally, I want to thank you for taking the time to write, and for paying attention to this important matter.

Yours Sincerely,

Michel Cormier

Executive Director, Leaders' Debates Commission