Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why was the Leaders' Debates Commission created?
The Government of Canada announced the creation of the independent Leaders' Debates Commission on October 30, 2018, following a wide consultation process.
The Commission's mandate is to organize two leaders' debates – one in English and one in French - during general election campaigns.
The Commission has organized leaders' debates in the 2019 and 2021 general elections and has provided greater stability to the debate environment.
In 2019 and 2021, the leaders of all the political parties invited to the leaders' debates agreed to participate.
What is the Commission responsible for?
The Commission is responsible for:
- Writing a Request for Proposal (RFP) which sets out all the production, promotion and distribution requirements for the leaders' debates and clearly outlines the role and responsibilities of the debates producer. In the RFP, the Commission identifies that the public interest is best served by having:
- a simple format that encourages meaningful exchanges between the leaders, helps Canadians learn about their policy positions and party platforms and sheds light on the leaders' character;
- one single moderator for each debate (an experienced journalist with no other journalists or hosts on stage); and
- a simple and intimate set and production design that keeps the focus on the leaders and on the content.
- Awarding a contract to a debates producer for the production, promotion, and distribution of the two debates, one in French and one in English;
- Setting the participation criteria for the leaders' debates and determining which political party leaders are invited to participate in the debates;
- Developing a format template for both the French and English debates that is based on principles, international and national best practices, and broad consultations;
- Providing final approval of the format for each debate;
- Developing the responsibilities, qualities, and attributes that a moderator must embody in the leaders' debates;
- Developing the media accreditation policy that determines who will be accredited to cover the leaders' debates;
- Selecting the date, location, and venue for the debates in consultation with the debates producer;
- Communicating with political parties in consultation with the debates producer;
- Consulting with stakeholders and experts here in Canada and around the world on issues related to debates, polling, and democracy.
How does the Commission operate?
The Commission has complete operational independence from the Government, working with registered political parties with impartiality and non-partisanship and conducting its mandate in the public interest.
All operational decisions are and have always been taken by the Debates Commissioner and the Commission's secretariat.
The Commission is supported by a seven-member Advisory Board which provides advice to the Debates Commissioner.
If the position of Debates Commissioner is vacant, the role is held by the executive director of the Commission who is the highest-ranking staff member of the secretariat and is authorized to exercise the powers and perform the duties and functions of the Debates Commissioner.
The Privy Council Office provides limited administrative support to the Commission.
Do the debates organized by the Commission attract large audiences?
In 2019, the leaders' debates registered a record viewership of 19 million for both debates, drawing substantially more viewers than debates organized in previous campaigns.
Over 14 million Canadians tuned in to the English-language debate and over 5 million watched the French-language debate, more than in 2015 and 2011.
The English-language and French-language debates were available live on 15 television networks, three national radio networks, and 24 digital platforms. The debates were provided in 14 languages, including ASL, LSQ and Indigenous languages.
In 2021, viewership for the leaders' debates stood at 14 million. Over 10 million Canadians tuned in to the English-language debate and over 4 million watched the French-language debate.
The English-language and French-language debates were available live on 36 television networks, four radio networks, and more than 115 digital streams. Both debates were provided in 16 languages, including six Indigenous languages and ASL and LSQ. They were also available in closed captioning and described video.
Is the Commission responsible for inviting the leaders of the political parties to the debates?
Yes. The Debates Commissioner is responsible for setting the participation criteria and deciding which leaders of registered political parties are invited to the leaders' debates.
Is the Commission responsible for the production of the debates?
The Commission sets out its production, promotion and distribution requirements for the leaders' debates in a Request for Proposal (RFP) which clearly outlines the role and responsibilities of the debates producer.
In the RFP, the Commission identifies that the public interest is best served by having:
- a simple format that encourages meaningful exchanges between the leaders, helps Canadians learn about their policy positions and party platforms and sheds light on the leaders' character;
- one single moderator for each debate (an experienced journalist with no other journalists or hosts on stage); and
- a simple and intimate set and production design that keeps the focus on the leaders and on the content.
Once the contract is awarded to a debates producer, the debates producer is responsible for the production, promotion, and distribution of the two debates, one in French and one in English.
Is the Commission responsible for the format?
Yes. By virtue of its mandate, the Commission has the ultimate responsibility over the format.
The Commission consulted widely after the 2021 federal elections, speaking with more than 50 debate organizers from here and other countries to identify the best practices for effective and informative debates.
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.
The Commission has identified format principles which take into account the summary of these international and national stakeholder consultations and establish the direction that the Commission is looking to take for the next leaders' debates.
The final format of each debate will be approved by the Commission.
Is the Commission responsible for selecting the moderators?
No. The debates producer will select the moderator for the French-language and English-language debates and the selection must be based on the criteria established by the Commission.
After the 2021 elections, the Commission spent time consulting with debate organizers here and in other countries and has identified the role, responsibilities, qualities, and attributes that a moderator must embody in the next leaders' debates. This includes being a journalist with experience moderating debates and substantial hours of live television experience running panels or programs with many people on stage or set.
Is the Commission responsible for selecting the questions of the debates?
No. The Commission is not involved in determining the themes or the questions in the leaders' debates so to respect the journalistic independence of the moderator and debates producer.
The moderator of each debate will work with the debates producer to formulate the questions.
Is the Commission responsible for selecting the themes of the debates?
No. The Commission is not involved in determining the themes or the questions in the leaders' debates so to respect the journalistic independence of the moderator and debates producer.
The moderator and debates producer are responsible for selecting the themes.
How are the dates for the debates determined?
The way in which the dates of the debates are determined is based on a number of considerations to ensure that they resonate most effectively: the optimal time to hold the debates considering the early and advanced voting patterns of Canadians, deadlines for political parties to register their candidates, as well as the balancing of other factors like the Commission's participation criteria and its mandate to reach as many Canadians as possible.
Does the Commission work with experts here in Canada and around the world?
The Commission takes part in international symposiums where we share ideas and expertise on best practices with an international network of debate organizers.
In September 2023, the Commission presented its findings on both format and moderation to an international group of debate organizers in Washington D.C.
The Commission also consults regularly with experts and academics here in Canada and in other countries who focus on, and research issues related to democracy, polling, and debates.
