OTTAWA – The five main federal political parties have agreed to take part in a French-language debate televised by Canada’s largest broadcasters next month, but plans for an English-language debate are still up in the air.
According to the Broadcast Consortium of Radio-Canada, Télé-Québec, CBC News, CTV News and Global News, in partnership with La Presse, the 2015 French-language Leaders Debate will take place on September 24 from 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM ET in Radio-Canada's studios in Montreal, and be moderated by Quebec TV host Anne-Marie Dussault. The leaders of the Conservative Party of Canada, the New Democratic Party of Canada, the Liberal Party of Canada, the Bloc Quebecois and the Green Party of Canada all confirmed their attendance Tuesday.
"The leaders of all the invited political parties expressed a desire to participate in debates in French, and we heard them", said Michel Cormier, director general of information at Radio-Canada, in the news release. "This debate will be unique in its reach from coast to coast and its diversity of voices."
The release added that discussions to produce an English-language Leaders Debate on October 8 are ongoing.
