Federal debate planning to be taken ‘out of back rooms,’ Liberal minister promises
OTTAWA — An independent commission will organize federal leaders’ debates for the next election to take the planning out of back rooms where political parties try to design the debates for their own advantage, Democratic Institutions Minister Karina Gould announced Tuesday.
The plan went over like a lead balloon with the Official Opposition, who say the plan is evidence of election rigging.
The commission will organize two leaders’ debates for the 2019 election — one in each official language — and will ensure discussions are accessible to all Canadians on various communication platforms, Gould said outside the House of Commons.
“What this whole thing is about is ensuring that this is done in a public, transparent way and to ensure that the public interest is at the centre, and not partisan interest,” Gould said.