OTTAWA, Oct. 30, 2018 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is following through on its commitment to support a robust process to organize leaders' debates during federal election campaigns. National debates work to enhance Canadians' knowledge of the federal parties, their leaders and policy positions.
The Honourable Karina Gould, Minister of Democratic Institutions, announced today the creation of an independent Leaders' Debates Commission. The Commission's initial mandate will be to organize two leaders' debates—one in each official language—for the 2019 federal general election. Expected to be fully in place by spring 2019, the Leaders' Debates Commission will be led by a Commissioner, and supported by a seven-member Advisory Board.
The Minister also took the opportunity to announce the Government's nominee for Canada's first Debates Commissioner, the Right Honourable David Johnston.
Central to its oversight of the 2019 federal leaders' debates, the Commission will work to ensure that the leaders' debates are accessible to all Canadians on a variety of platforms.
Canadians recommended a phased, thoughtful, and independent approach to leaders' debates. The creation of a Debates Commission was informed by a consultation process that included: online consultations with Canadians; a series of round tables with various specialists, broadcasters, academics and stakeholders across the country; and a study by the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs.
The Commission's mandate includes the preparation of a report to Parliament, following the 2019 debates, outlining findings, lessons learned, and recommendations to inform the potential creation of a more permanent Leaders' Debates Commission going forward.
Quotes
"Leaders' debates are a fundamental exercise in democracy. An independent commission will make the debates a more predictable, reliable and stable element of federal election campaigns. Canadians agree that a Debates Commission needs to be sustainable, non-partisan, independent, and established with the priorities and interests of Canadians in mind. Going forward, the Leaders' Debates Commission will ensure that Canadians with disabilities, those living in rural and remote areas, and official language minority communities will have access to vital information about their choice of leader, party and platform."
- The Honourable Karina Gould, Minister of Democratic Institutions
Quick Facts
- The first televised federal party leaders' debate took place in 1968.
- The 1979 leaders' debates attracted an audience of 7.5 million, nearly half of the English-speaking population.
- Total viewership for both English and French debates in the 2015 election campaign was significantly lower than for the debates held in 2006, 2008 and 2011.
- Minister Gould's mandate letter from the Prime Minister directs her to "bring forward options to create an independent commissioner to organize political party leaders' debates during future federal election campaigns, with a mandate to improve Canadians' knowledge of the parties, their leaders, and their policy positions."
- Establishing an independent commissioner to organize political party leaders' debates will help ensure that the interests of Canadians are central to how leaders' debates are organized and broadcast.
- Budget 2018 included $5.5 million over two years to support a new process that would ensure that federal leaders' debates are organized in the public interest and improve Canadians' knowledge of the parties, their leaders and their policy positions.
Related Products
- Backgrounder: Leaders' Debates Commission
- Backgrounder: Creation of a Debates Commission for the 2019 Leaders' Debates
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BACKGROUNDER
The Leaders' Debates Commission
On October 30, 2018, the Government of Canada announced that it will establish an independent commission to organize leaders' debates.
The Leaders' Debates Commission will make the debates a more predictable, reliable, and stable element of federal election campaigns.
Part of the Commission's mandate is to advance the public interest by ensuring that the national debates are as accessible as possible, on a variety of platforms. The 2019 debates will encourage the use of new media, and reach to new audiences, including a mandate to ensure debates are available in accessible formats.
In making this announcement, the Minister of Democratic Institutions is fulfilling her mandate letter commitment to bring forward options to establish an independent commissioner to organize leaders' debates during future federal election campaigns.
Mandate
The core of the mandate of the Debates Commission is to organize two leaders' debates for the 2019 federal general election—one in each official language. Other elements of the Commission's mandate include:
- establishing and selecting a seven members Advisory Board to the Commissioner;
- entering into contract for the production of the debates;
- providing, free of charge, the feed for debates it organizes;
- engaging political parties to negotiate terms and the media to ensure broad distribution;
- being the spokesperson of the Commission; and
- following the 2019 general election and no later than March 31, 2020, providing a report to Parliament outlining findings, lessons learned, and recommendations to inform the potential creation in statute of a "built to last" Debates Commission.
In the interest of time, and as a starting point for the upcoming 2019 debates, the Government has established clear criteria for participation by political party leaders. In 2019, debates would include leaders of political parties that meet two of the following three criteria:
1) Have a Member of Parliament, elected as a member of that party, in the House of Commons at the time the election is called;
2) Intend to run candidates in at least 90 percent of electoral districts; and
3) Have either obtained four percent of the vote in a previous election or a legitimate chance to win seats in the upcoming election.
These participation criteria reflect the broad parameters already used by the broadcasting consortium for past elections. They are in keeping feedback from the consultation process. The Commissioner will be mandated to finalize and apply the use of these participation criteria for 2019, and will provide recommendations for future debates participation criteria in the Commission's follow-up report.
Debates Commissioner
The Debates' Commissioner will execute their role in a manner that is neutral, fair, and principled. The Government has identified an eminent candidate whose impartiality is respected across the political spectrum, and by Canadians. The Government also sought an individual who has experience in broadcasting or journalism and in debate negotiations, is bilingual, and has experience building bridges throughout Canadian society.
Advisory Board
The Advisory Board will be selected by the Debates Commissioner, in consideration of criteria outlined in the Commissioner's mandate.
The Advisory Board will provide advice to further the Commission's efforts to ensure that its debates are accessible to Canadians with disabilities, and reach those living in rural and remote communities.
SOURCE Minister for Democratic Institutions
(media only): Nicky Cayer, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Democratic Institutions, 613-943-1833; Media Relations: Privy Council Office, 613-957-5420
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