OTTAWA – The four major party leaders will take to the airwaves four times during the federal election campaign, Canada’s broadcasters announced Wednesday.
This will no doubt mean the Green Party will once again pursue action at the CRTC level (It complained as loudly as it could during the last election campaign when it was refused inclusion in the debates. As long as it remains seatless in the House of Commons, said the broadcasters during the last campaign, it stays on the outside looking in).
The new debate format will feature an increase in the number of Leaders debates compared with 2004 – including, for the first time, debates from western Canada – as well as improvements designed to enhance the quality of the discussion.
Specifically, the new format will have two sets of formal Election Debates involving the Party Leaders to be held before and after the holiday break.
The first set will be held in Vancouver. On Thursday, December 15, there will be a French-language debate, followed the next day in English. Both will be broadcast between 8 p.m. – 10 p.m. ET (5 p.m. – 7 p.m. PT).
The second set of debates, to be held in Gatineau or Montreal, will be nearer to the final stage of the campaign. On Monday, January 9, it’ll go in English, followed the next day in French, at the same time in the evening.
In the past, there has never been more than one set of debates.
And, the Vancouver debate will include videotaped questions for the leaders from viewers.
The new formula emerged from discussions involving the networks (CBC/Radio-Canada, CTV, Global Television and TVA) and the parties (Liberals, Conservatives, Bloc Quebecois and the NDP).
Discussions began last spring on how the telecasts can be improved. In 2004, there were criticisms about the limited time available to debating the key campaign issues, and complaints from viewers that constant interruptions by the leaders made the debates confusing and difficult to follow.
The nets say this new formula will deal with these issues as the format, although encouraging genuine debate, will devote more time to issues and prevent confusing cross-talk among the leaders.
However, they did not say exactly how they will prevent that last part from happening (Ed note: Trap doors in the floor?)
The moderators for the four debates will be the following:
1. French-language Debate, Vancouver, December 15: Dominique Poirier (current affairs host, Radio-Canada)
2. English-language Debate, Vancouver, December 16: Trina McQueen (broadcaster)
3. English-language Debate, Gatineau or Montreal, January 9: Steve Paikin (current affairs host, TV Ontario)
4. French-language Debate, Gatineau or Montreal, January 10: Sophie Thibault (news anchor, TVA)
