A rally outside of CBC North on Wednesday urged the broadcaster to hold a federal leaders debate on climate change before itSA国际影视传媒檚 too late.

Rally attendeesSA国际影视传媒� placards called for SA国际影视传媒済reen jobs for allSA国际影视传媒� and a green new deal.  Others simply stated SA国际影视传媒�11 yearsSA国际影视传媒� SA国际影视传媒� a reference to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate ChangeSA国际影视传媒檚 2018 report that the planet will heat 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by 2030 and will then face increasingly disastrous extreme weather as a result.

Our Time, a national campaign aiming to spur a Canadian green new deal through the upcoming federal election, organized the event.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e in a climate emergency,SA国际影视传媒� organizer Thomas Gagnon-van Leeuwen told Yellowknifer at the rally. SA国际影视传媒淛ust in the north, weSA国际影视传媒檝e seen the impact of wildfires, (and) ice roads closing early.SA国际影视传媒�

In response, the organization is calling on CBC to host a federal leaders debate. However, CBC told Yellowknifer that it was up to the LeadersSA国际影视传媒� Debates Commission to select the media outlets hosting the debate. Once chosen, individual outlets make an editorial decision on the theme of a debate.

SA国际影视传媒淲e know climate change is an issue that is important to Canadians and it will be reflected in CBC NewsSA国际影视传媒� election coverage approach. We have covered climate change extensively and we will continue to cover this issue,SA国际影视传媒� CBC English Services Head of Public Affairs Chuck Thompson wrote over email.

SA国际影视传媒淪eparately, it's the debate commission who determines which media organization will host the official leaders debate. Any decisions around topics of the debate would be driven by the editorial group that will be producing it.SA国际影视传媒�

Speaking to the rally attendees, Thomas Gagnon-van Leeuwen said Our Time had been collecting signatures to push the debate commission to organize a climate debate. He said its response was SA国际影视传媒渋tSA国际影视传媒檚 the broadcasterSA国际影视传媒檚 job.SA国际影视传媒�

Gagnon-van Leeuwen told Yellowknifer the rally was held at CBC because itSA国际影视传媒檚 a publicly-funded broadcaster with clout in the broader media landscape, and is also a large member of the debates commission.

SA国际影视传媒淭hey have the most power to push for a climate debate and a debate on the green new deal,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Green Party nominee Paul Falvo also attended as a candidate, but said it wasnSA国际影视传媒檛 a partisan event. He added he supports a national leaders debate on the issue, saying that party leader Elizabeth should be in the national debates SA国际影视传媒渢o put daylight on these issues.SA国际影视传媒� There should also be a local equivalent, he said.

One of the rallySA国际影视传媒檚 speakers, Neesha Rao, said the risk of no climate debate is SA国际影视传媒渨eSA国际影视传媒檒l just have one question about the Kinder-Morgan pipeline. Trudeau will just talk about jobs and Andrew Scheer will just talk about the carbon tax and we wonSA国际影视传媒檛 have a real conversation about climate change.SA国际影视传媒�

She said that while the green new deal is associated with progressive politicians in the US, she didnSA国际影视传媒檛 want it to alienate conservatives, liberals or non-voters.

One rally attendee, Jay Butler said he supports both an Amercian and a proposed Canadian green new deal. SA国际影视传媒淭hey make an awful lot of sense,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚t creates jobs, makes for a better environment.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淚 have two kids around 20. Thirty years, ISA国际影视传媒檓 (not) going to be dealing with the fallout of this, but they will,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Emma Butler, his daughter, said she was involved with the green team at her school and the recent student climate strikes. SA国际影视传媒淎nything to move this cause forward, ISA国际影视传媒檓 there for,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

SA国际影视传媒淚 donSA国际影视传媒檛 think I know any people around my age, any kids, who (donSA国际影视传媒檛 think) itSA国际影视传媒檚 important SA国际影视传媒� to protect the environment,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

SA国际影视传媒淚 want to be a part of something thatSA国际影视传媒檚 ensuring I have a good future in the same world ISA国际影视传媒檓 growing up in, not one thatSA国际影视传媒檚 changed and ruined.SA国际影视传媒�