OTTAWA – The order in which federal party leaders will speak in the televised election debates will be determined in Ottawa on Thursday, Dec. 8.
Draws will be held to allot the order in which the leaders make opening and closing statements, as well as podium positions and other logistical details, in the National Press Theatre. Representatives of each of the four federal political parties participating in the debates will be in attendance, and media are also invited to watch.
There will be two sets of debates, in English and French. The first set will be held in Vancouver. The French-language debate will be held on Dec. 15, with the English following on Dec. 16. Both debates will be broadcast between 8 and 10 p.m. ET (5 – 7 p.m. PT). Then in January, broadcasters will hold the second set in Gatineau, Que. or Montreal. Jan. 9 will see the English-language debate, followed the next day by the French-language debate. The second set of debates will take place at the same times.
The debates will be broadcast live by a consortium representing Canada’s largest English and French television networks: CBC/Radio-Canada, CTV, Global Television, and TVA.
