Originally posted by leira
Apparently it's more than a "small number" of people, as I heard on the CBC this morning that due to public outcry, the Green party will be included in the debates after all.
I don't think it was public outcry at all. In the CBC article, it said that Layton and Harper reconsidered and will no longer protest May's involvement. Harper probably knows that he'll massacre May in the debate anyways.

Originally posted by leira
Given your own stats, the Greens are different than those other minor parties. 4% is alot more than .19%. I don't see it as the slippery slope you seem to be suggesting it is.
I don't think it's a slippery slope. I don't think it will lead to the other parties being included in the debate. But I do wonder why special consideration is being given to the Greens. Heck, I don't even think the Bloc should be in the debates, and they have over twice the popular support as the Greens, despite fielding candidates in only one province. It just boils down to the fact that the Green party is totally irrelevant in national politics. They can't even muster the indirect influence on policy that the Bloc and NDP can. If they had any elected seats in the House, or even any real following, then I might feel differently.