Report calls for overhaul of political debates

Political | 206879 hits | Sep 10 6:36 pm | Posted by: dino_bobba_renno

If Tom Axworthy and his think-tank have their way, Gilles Duceppe and his Bloc Québécois will be blocked from the televised English-language leaders' debate in future elections.

Comments

by dino_bobba_renno
Fri Sep 11, 2009 1:40 am
Since the Bloc runs no candidates in English-speaking Canada, he said, why should its leader take up 25 per cent of the time in a televised English debate?

Perfectly legit argument as far as I'm concerned. In fact, any party that runs at a national level should be forced to run a canidate in every province.
by xerxes
Fri Sep 11, 2009 1:58 am
Totally agree with the report. Say what you want about Elizabeth May and the Green Party, but she had more of a right to be at the last debate than the BQ.
by dino_bobba_renno
Fri Sep 11, 2009 2:07 am
And in the final weeks of the campaign, the two leaders whose parties are highest in the public-opinion polls would square off against each other in one last televised debate.

I like that idea too. It would be nice to see the two main leaders square off and allow them some time to debate the bigger issues. The last election debate was a joke.
by Saskanna
Fri Sep 11, 2009 2:09 am
The Liberal Leader and the Conservative Leader should debate each other period.

If there are going to be other debates then it should be between the NDP, The Green and le Bloc. None of which have any chance whatsoever of forming a National Government. Until they do, they should not get to debate the two Leaders who might become the next PM. JMO.

Recently, the Poltical Debates have been a complete and total farce. I won't even watch them anymore.

edited for spelling!
by SigPig
Fri Sep 11, 2009 2:14 am
"dino_bobba_renno" said
Since the Bloc runs no candidates in English-speaking Canada, he said, why should its leader take up 25 per cent of the time in a televised English debate?

Perfectly legit argument as far as I'm concerned. In fact, any party that runs at a national level should be forced to run a canidate in every province.

Sounds good to me. You don't care about english Canada, you don't get to campaign to them.

You also can't tell me any party is unable to find at least one riding in every province in which to run a candidate.
by OldChum
Fri Sep 11, 2009 2:04 pm
Yes if you run in a federal election you must field a candidate in every riding, it makes sense.
by Bodah
Fri Sep 11, 2009 2:37 pm
You wont here any complaints from me if the Bloc weren't allowed during the english debates. I can vouch for most Anglos left in Quebec we'd never vote bloc anyways to say otherwise is asinine.

Boot his ass off the debate.

As far as Im concerned it should be the only people that have an actually chance of becoming PM. Liberals/Conservatsce ther rest is just the Lunatic fringe wasting airwaves.
by QBall
Fri Sep 11, 2009 2:40 pm
If Tom Axworthy and his think-tank have their way, Gilles Duceppe and his Bloc Québécois will be blocked from the televised English-language leaders' debate in future elections.

Works for me.

The debates would be mandatory and a leader who did not participate would see the public subsidy provided his or her political party cut.

Um, okay. I can't recall any leader who's skipped one the major televised debates, but I suppose it could happen.

And in the final weeks of the campaign, the two leaders whose parties are highest in the public-opinion polls would square off against each other in one last televised debate.

I don't think that's a very good idea at all. It wouldn't be much of a debate then, it would be of a calculated infomercial on Valium.
by leewgrant
Fri Sep 11, 2009 3:03 pm
"Saskanna" said
The Liberal Leader and the Conservative Leader should debate each other period.

If there are going to be other debates then it should be between the NDP, The Green and le Bloc. None of which have any chance whatsoever of forming a National Government. Until they do, they should not get to debate the two Leaders who might become the next PM. JMO.

Recently, the Poltical Debates have been a complete and total farce. I won't even watch them anymore.

edited for spelling!

Pretty simple really. To participate in the English debate you have to field candidates in 75% of the ridings AND already have an MP elected. That dumps Liz and Gilles.

Last year rather than watch that five-way fiasco I watched Joe and Sarah go to it on CNN.
by gonavy47
Fri Sep 11, 2009 3:07 pm
Make the change, I'm all for it.

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