TORONTO – The heads of Canada’s major networks are sure there’s going to be a federal election and have told Canada’s political parties that TV debates have to change.
In a letter sent today to Canada’s major political parties, representatives of five television networks asked for immediate talks with the parties to discuss debate format changes.
The letter was signed by Tony Burman, editor in chief, CBC News; Robert Hurst, president, CTV News; Steve Wyatt, senior vice-president news and information, Global Television; Louis Lalande, general manager TV and current affairs, RDI; and Pierre-Paul Beaulieu, executive producer, information and public affairs, TVA.
“The upcoming election campaign will be crucial in many respects. It will involve issues that are at the heart of any democracy. We know you share our belief that only through thoughtful and insightful discussion will Canadian citizens be in a position to make an informed choice on Election Day,” reads the letter.
“In our role as senior network officials, and with the interests of the Canadian voting public in mind, we have had discussions among ourselves about ways in which the Canadian Election Debate pattern can be improved.
“As you recall, last year’s pattern involved two debates on consecutive nights in the fourth week of the campaign – one in French, the other in English, each of them two hours long, originating from Ottawa.
“We have reviewed these tapes,” says the letter, “examined the models used by Canada in the past and by other countries, and have arrived at some major conclusions which we would like to put to you for consideration:”
1. The news executives believe the format of the debates can be improved. In short, there was too much talking, not enough listening. “We share the view of most viewers and television critics who reacted to last year’s debates,” they say.
“There was too much interruption, which, for many viewers, made it confusing and difficult to follow. These debates need genuine engagement and rebuttal, but in a way that enables voters to hear and understand the different party leaders. We will be proposing format changes that would achieve this,” says the letter.
2. The three English networks believe there needs to be an additional English-language debate, originating from western Canada.
“Format aside, there is simply not enough air time available to even mention, let alone seriously debate, all of the key election issues in this enormous country of ours. Four candidates, in two hours, are barely able to scratch the surface. Entire regions of Canada are effectively ignored in this format. This was glaringly apparent when contrasted with the full three U.S. presidential debates, broadcast on all major American networks, involving only two presidential candidates.”
The three national English networks strongly believe there needs to be a second English-language debate. Both debates would be available to any Canadian network that chose to broadcast them.
Further, the second debate should originate from western Canada, and include a selected audience. This is a very common election debate format in the United States and Europe, and there are several models, including from the U.S. election, where audience selection has been acceptable to both party and network representatives, according to the letter
In addition, Radio-Canada proposes that there also be a second debate in French to deal with those issues not covered in the single French-language debate.
“We realize that these additional hours would need to be factored into the campaign schedule. Our proposal will be that this added initiative be held in the second week of the campaign, while the two traditional French/English debates be held in Weeks Four or Five,” says the letter.
They suggest meeting at the CBC in Ottawa next week to discuss.
