Though the headlines over the last week have focused on the incredible surge from the NDP, one storyline that has been overshadowed is the goings-on with everyone's favourite underdog, Elizabeth May. Early on during the campaign, it did appear to be big news that May had been shut out of the televised debate. Despite her efforts, both through the media and the courts, May's voice as leader of the Green Party was silenced. This has been clearly reflected in the polls as the Green Party have dropped to 3-4% national support in recent polls, much lower than the 6.8% support that they achieved in the 2008 election.

Despite being silenced on the national stage, it actually turns out that this time around, May has a much better chance of being voted into Parliament. In 2008, May ran in Central Nova against Conservative Party heavyweight Peter McKay. Despite a solid showing, she lost by over 5,000 votes. This time, she is facing Gary Lunn, in Saanich-Gulf Islands, British Columbia. Though Lunn has served in Harper's Cabinet since 2006, he certainly doesn't have the political clout of a Peter McKay, and May appears to have a very solid chance to take the riding from the Conservatives. A recent poll in the riding itself, has May leading with 45% of decided voters, ahead of Lunn's 38%. This indeed could be quite the breakthrough for Elizabeth May and the Green Party of Canada.

Should Elizabeth May be voted in, I believe she will be quite the player on Parliament Hill. She will only hold one vote in the House of Common; however, she will now have a much bigger platform to speak from. Though the media shut her out of the debates, it is my guess that the mob may begin to flock to her along the hallways in Parliament - certainly an Elizabeth May soundbite is much more enticing than the drivel dispensed by some of the other dullards on the hill. And what do you think she will be talking about? One would likely imagine that the party's green initiatives will be her main prerogative ... I believe she will have something else on her mind. There's been a lot of talk about democracy by the federal parties, but the Greens have put it as front and centre as one of the pillars of their party platform. Elizabeth May has always been a champion of proportional representation and electoral reform - soon she may have a much bigger stage from which to promote it.

Though there is a lot to be decided in the election on May 2nd, should Elizabeth May be voted into Parliament it may be the most important outcome of all. With Elizabeth May in Parliament, it's quite possible that we will have that voice we need to bring change to how we run our elections in years to come.

Bobblehead World Update

In a strange case of art imitating life, bobblehead Liz has been silenced as well. A couple of weeks ago, my party leader bobbleheads arrived after having ordered them from politicalbobbles.ca. Each leader has its own special action or feature. Michael Ignatieff makes a confident point, Stephen Harper gives a double thumbs up, and Elizabeth May holds a microphone (conceivably accentuating her gift for the gab). However, as you can see, in some odd metaphorical twist of fate, Bobblehead Liz's microphone is broken. Despite the sturdy styrofoam packaging, somehow this affront to Bobblehead democracy came to pass (I think Bobblehead Steve had something to do with it). Hopefully, on May 2nd, real world Elizabeth May will be silenced no longer, and have a voice in the 41st Parliament of Canada.