Federal leaders’ debates scheduled for April 16-17 in Montreal

The upcoming federal election in Canada is set to feature a series of face-offs between the leaders of the main political parties. The Leaders’ Debates Commission, a government agency responsible for organizing these debates, has announced that the French debate will be held on April 16 at 8 p.m. ET, while the English debate will take place on April 17 at 7 p.m. ET. Both events will be hosted at the Maison de Radio-Canada in Montreal.

In order to participate in the debates, party leaders must meet specific criteria set out by the commission. These criteria include having at least one MP in the House of Commons before dissolution, polling at least four percent 28 days before the election, and having candidates nominated in at least 90 percent of federal ridings across Canada. The commission will announce which leaders have been invited to participate on April 1.

This year, the commission has decided to change the format of the debates to encourage more meaningful exchanges between the leaders. Unlike previous debates where multiple journalists asked questions, this year’s debates will be moderated by a single individual with the leaders themselves. CBC/Radio-Canada will produce and broadcast the debates, with Steve Paikin and Patrice Roy hosting the English and French debates, respectively.

The commission’s review of the 2021 debates found that they did not effectively inform voters about the parties’ policies. As a result, changes have been made to create a more flexible and engaging format for the upcoming debates.

In addition to the commission’s debate, the private French-language network TVA is planning to host a head-to-head French-language debate. Participants will be required to pay $75,000 each to offset the production costs of the event. The Bloc Québécois and the Conservative Party of Canada have agreed to participate, while the Liberals and NDP have not yet confirmed their participation.

The upcoming debates promise to be an important opportunity for voters to hear directly from party leaders on key issues facing the country. With a new format and criteria in place, these debates aim to provide a clearer understanding of each party’s platform and vision for Canada’s future.