Elizabeth May not invited to leaders' TV debate

Green leader Elizabeth May (pictured)says a broadcast consortium’s decision to exclude her from a televised leaders’ debate is “breathtakingly anti-democratic.” She is calling on Canadians to rise up and to register their disapproval. Consortium spokesman Marco Dube told media Tuesday only the four leaders whose parties are in the House of Commons — Conservative, Liberal, NDP and Bloc Quebecois — are invited to take part. The Green party has not yet elected an MP. Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff told reporters in Vancouver May “belongs in the debate. “Of course she’s welcome . . . she was there last time,” he said. A spokeswoman for the New Democrats’ campaign said the party is “fine with her in the debate.” The PC's have not yet made a statement about the issue. Dube told media outlets Tuesday five host broadcasters — CBC, Radio-Canada, CTV, Global and TVA — “unanimously decided they wanted to invite the four parties that have representation in the House.” He described it as a programming decision.