Format

Principles

Following the 2021 federal election campaign, the Leaders' Debates Commission spoke with more than 50 past and present debate organizers from here and other countries about which format and moderation principles produce the most effective and informative debates.

Although political systems differ, many of the same themes emerged during our consultations, revealing a broad consensus among the debate organizers.

The research findings echo the principles outlined in the Commission's final report on the 2021 federal election experience.

The principal finding that emerged from the Commission's consultations is a need for a simple and flexible format that encourages meaningful exchanges between the leaders, i.e., a format that favours a natural flow and open exchanges between the leaders (instead of rigid timed segments), and keeps the focus on them, and their policy positions and party platforms. In sum, the format must be simple and easy to follow, and the focus should be kept on the leaders and on the content.

Below are the format principles which take into account the summary of these stakeholder consultations and establish the direction that the Commission is looking to take for the next leaders' debates.

The final format for each debate will be approved by the Commission.

The Commission believes that the following principles are fundamental to serving the public interest:

A simple format which

• encourages meaningful exchanges between the leaders, helps Canadians to learn about the parties' platforms and policy positions, sheds light on the leaders' character and enables the voting public to make an informed decision at the ballot box.
• prioritizes information and content for the voting public over entertainment values.
• offers an opportunity for a substantive discussion on policy issues and party platforms and provides illuminating political debate by drawing out the differences in policy positions and between party platforms.
• has a number of themes and number of questions within each theme which provide an opportunity for a substantive discussion on policy issues and party platforms.
• ensures a natural flow rather than predetermined one-on-ones between the leaders.
• ensures flexibility in length for each theme.
• has a simple and intimate set design that keeps the focus on the leaders and on the content, which facilitates interventions by the moderator, encourages interaction between the leaders, and allows for strong eyeline between the moderator and each leader on stage.

One moderator

• The moderator must be an experienced journalist.
• The moderator must have experience moderating debates and substantial hours of live television experience running panels or programs with many people on stage or set.
• The moderator should formulate and pose questions in a neutral way.
• The moderator should not express an opinion or frame a question to the leaders in an opinionated or partisan way.
• The moderator must embody the characteristics established by the Commission.

Role of the moderator

• The moderator is to be on stage as a facilitator and act as the conductor of the debate.
• The moderator is to get the debate flowing between the leaders, facilitate discussion and elicit exchanges between the leaders, while keeping the focus and attention on the content and on the leaders.
• The moderator is to allow leaders to challenge each other's positions and leave rebuttals largely to them.

Time management

• There should be overall fairness for the leaders rather than a strict enforcement of equal time, with the moderator being trusted to keep time.

Length and number of themes

• The moderator should have the flexibility to dedicate more time on a theme or question that becomes engaging or needs more clarity.
• A format with up to four themes with flexible timing aligns with consultations and feedback received in Canada and internationally.