Canadian political leaders debate about debates

   THE CANADIAN REPORT

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Debates over debates are overshadowing promises, promises as Canada's political leaders campaign for the May 2 federal election.

   Upset at being shut out of the televised leaders' debates, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May is asking the court to force broadcasters to let her in.

   And, it now appears there won't be a one-on-one showdown between the two frontrunners -- Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff.

 

   May is fighting the decision by broadcasters and the four federal parties to exclude her from the debates to be held in English on April 12 and in French on April 14.

   The decision was based on the Greens not having any elected politicians in Parliament.

   May, whose party received more than a million votes in the last election, said it's "anti-democratic" to exclude her and is an attempt to silence the Green's views.

   Critics suggest the debates, which also include New Democratic Party Leader Jack Layton, should leave out Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe as he represents a regional party with a mandate for Quebec independence.

   The broadcasters also decided against a separate Harper-Ignatieff debate, leaving the two leaders to suggest that each other was to blame.

   "You can't trust this man," Ignatieff said of Harper, while the prime minister said the Liberal leader opted instead for an all-party debate with "his coalition partners" that scuttled the two-man showdown.

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   "They don't impress me much," is the opinion of Canadians about their political leaders.

   An Abacus National Data Poll ranking the politicians on a "favorability" index placed Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff last at 24 percent.

   Prime Minister Stephen Harper had a 34-percent ranking while on top was New Democratic Party Leader Jack Layton with 38 percent.

   What Abacus CEO David Coletto found in reviewing the results was that most Canadians have a definite opinion about Harper, with two in three having a "very unfavorable impression."

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   News in brief:

   - A Quebec-based soldier is the latest Canadian to die from an improvised explosive device in the Afghanistan conflict. Corporal Yannick Scherrer, 24, of Canadian Forces Base Valcartier, was on foot patrol with Afghan forces southwest of Kandahar City. He was the 155th Canadian soldier to die in the mission since 2002.

   - Canada's economic recovery started off at a strong pace this year as manufacturers expanded production the most in eight years. Along with manufacturing, there were higher numbers for trucking, railway, transportation, warehousing, building materials and automobiles.

   - Tough competition and "unmanageable" debt are cited for the planned sale by

Priszm Income Fund of 231 of its KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut franchises across Canada. The Ontario Superior Court has granted court protection to Priszm in the sale to Soul Restaurants based in the United Kingdom.

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   Facts and figures:

   Canada's dollar is at a three-year high, boosted by rising oil prices, at $1.0372 U.S. The U.S. greenback returns 96.41 cents Canadian, before bank exchange fees.

   The Bank of Canada's key interest rate remains at 1 percent while the prime lending rate is 3 percent.

   Canadian stock markets are mixed, with the Toronto exchange index up at 14,173 points while the TSX Venture Exchange is down at 2,293 points.

   Lotto 6-49: (Wednesday) 8, 15, 17, 29, 36 and 44; bonus 16. (March 26) 4, 6, 21, 22, 42 and 43; bonus 12. Lotto Max: (March 25) 1, 4, 22, 25, 26, 36 and 46; bonus 5.

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   Regional briefs:

   - Honda has reduced production to a half-shift at one of its Ontario plants due to a shortage of parts after the Japanese earthquake and tsunami. Many of the parts used in the assembly of Japanese vehicles in North America come from the quake zone. Toyota earlier eliminated overtime at its three Ontario auto manufacturing facilities to preserve parts.

   - Neil Reimer, first leader of the Alberta New Democrats, has died at age 88. He led the socialist party in the early 1960s, was a union organizer and father of former Edmonton mayor Jan Reimer.

   - A five-week lockout at the Moosehead Brewery in Saint John, New Brunswick has ended after workers ratified a new contract. The deal provides raises of 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent over seven years, a retirement savings plan and health benefits to retired workers.

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Jim Fox can be reached at canadareport@hotmail.com