Canada

Why do we have leaders’ debates?

Candidates so deferential to their bosses, so willing to short-change the people of their ridings, are a discredit to democracy and an embarrassment to themselves.

Two nurses were injured while protesting outside the provincial election debate on Monday, a provincial health care worker union said.

More than three-quarters of Canadians who viewed the nationally televised 2021 election leaders’ debate say the moderator asked good questions and treated the party leaders on stage fairly, a poll by the commission responsible for the event has found.

Ontario’s four main party leaders were relatively civil as they sparred at Monday night’s televised election debate in Toronto.

The Leaders' Debate Commission proposes changes for the next round of election debates

The only English-language debate planned for Quebec's fall election has been called off after two party leaders, including Premier François Legault, said they wouldn't take part.

Conservative Party of Quebec leader Éric Duhaime is inviting Quebec Liberal Party leader Dominique Anglade to take part in an English-language debate ahead of the October election, even if Premier François Legault declines to take part.

Organizing a decent minimum number of election debates ought to be seen less as a journalistic or philanthropic exercise (though it is always open to private groups to sponsor more) and more as a basic function of the state, like putting out polling booths or counting the votes.

There were only two candidates facing the cameras at the St. Catharines provincial riding debate hosted by local YourTV Thursday.

However much anyone enjoys or feels squeamish about intra-party conflict, it's still the substance of the fight that matters more than the spectacle.

Conservative leadership candidates took the stage Wednesday in Edmonton for what turned into an unorthodox, wide-ranging debate that featured discussions about the war in Ukraine, abortion and supply management — with detours on the topics of binge-worthy TV shows and the candidates' current reading