Party leaders have to qualify to be invited to the debate. Konstantin Malkov/Dreamstime.com

By Eli J. Ridder

CANADA'S CHOICE 2025

Here’s when the 2025 federal election debates are taking place

Mar 25, 2025 | 12:55 PM

Two debates featuring the leaders of Canada’s main parties has been scheduled ahead of the April 28 federal election.

The French debate will take place first at 6 p.m. on April 16. The English language debate will get underway at 7 p.m. on April 17.

The debates will take place in the Maison de Radio-Canada in Montreal and will be broadcasted and streamed across Canada.

The Leaders’ Debates Commission, set up to provide some stability and consistency for the federal election debates, is running the event once again.

The commission is an independent and impartial public body mandated to organize two debates, one in each official language, while paying special attention to Canada’s Indigenous languages.

IN THE COMMUNITY

Tours to start for potential new Mustard Seed sites, Medicine Hat official says

5h ago

IN THE COMMUNITY

Medicine Hat College students place second in Alberta business competition

Mar 25, 2025

EDUCATION

Medicine Hat education support workers get new bargaining team, mediation date confirmed

Mar 24, 2025

The commission said it’s taking a simpler approach this year that aims “to produce the most informative and effective debates for voters” by having one moderator and a flexible format.

TVO’s Steve Paikin will moderate the English debate and Patrice Roy, Radio-Canada journalist and news anchor, will moderate the French debate.

Leaders must meet two of three criteria to be invited.

The criteria includes the leader being an elected MP, receiving national support of at least four per cent based on polling averages and the party endorsing candidates in at least 90 per cent of federal ridings.

The commission will on April 1 announce which leaders qualify for the debate.