Parties must meet 2 of 3 requirements to join federal leaders’ debate in next election

The Leaders’ Debates Commission has recently unveiled the rules for the upcoming English- and French-language leaders’ debates that will take place during the next federal election campaign. Established in 2018 as a government agency responsible for organizing federal leaders’ debates, the commission outlined three key criteria that must be met for a leader of a registered political party to participate in the debates.

Firstly, the leader must be represented in the House of Commons by an MP who was elected under the party banner on the day the election is called. This rule aims to prevent party leaders from falsely claiming compliance by having members switch parties during the parliamentary sitting.

Secondly, the leader’s party must have the support of at least four percent of the electorate 28 days before voting day, as determined by leading national public opinion polling organizations. This criterion ensures that only parties with significant public support are eligible to participate.

Lastly, the party must have endorsed candidates in at least 90 percent of federal ridings across Canada 28 days before the federal election. To fulfill this requirement, the party’s chief agent must submit a list of endorsed candidates for federal ridings within the specified timeframe.

Following a review of the 2021 census data, Elections Canada announced that the number of seats in the 2025 federal election will increase from 338 to 343. The commission emphasized that the rules for participation in the debates are straightforward, transparent, and based on objective and measurable criteria.

If a party leader meets at least two of the criteria, the commission will extend an invitation to participate in the debates 27 days before election day. Michel Cormier, the executive director of the Leaders’ Debates Commission, stated that the criteria strike a balance between electoral success and viability, ensuring that the leaders on the debate stage represent the current political landscape of the country.

In preparation for the debates, the commission consulted with parties in the House and sought input from debate organizers worldwide. Unlike the previous debate in 2021, the upcoming debates will feature a single moderator and exclude questions from journalists. The English-language debate will be hosted by veteran TVO journalist Steve Paikin, while Radio-Canada’s Patrice Roy will host the French-language debate.

The commission selected CBC/Radio-Canada to broadcast the debates, with other media organizations permitted to distribute the debates on their platforms free of charge. Overall, the commission aims to provide a fair and transparent platform for leaders to engage in meaningful discussions leading up to the federal election.