Green Party successfully challenges Province House regulation
Wednesday April 2, 2008
Green Party successfully challenges Province House regulation
Millvale - The Green Party of PEI has successfully challenged a regulation that denied parties with unelected members the right to meet with media in Province House in the designated area for interviews following sessions of the Legislative Assembly.
PEI becomes the first province in Canada to recognize that parties unrepresented in a Legislative Assembly should not be excluded from equal opportunity to comment on public policy and the proceedings of the Legislative Assembly. The Government of Canada prohibits parties with no elected members from entering the media foyer at the House of Commons.
"We're pleasantly surprised that Speaker of the House Kathleen Casey quickly changed this ruling and agreed with us that it placed parties not represented in the assembly at a distinct disadvantage," said Green Party leader Sharon Labchuk. "She said that the assembly serves to promote free and open discourse, and the situation was untenable."
The Green Party supports grassroots democracy and the removal of all barriers that interfere with the rights of citizens and new or smaller political parties to play a meaningful role in the electoral process.
Contact: Sharon Labchuk 902-621-0719 or 902-940-1262