Debate rules

My proposal for federal election debate rules in Canada.


First, a recognition that Canada is not a seamless whole. Canada is a confederation of its various constituent parts.

Qualification will be based on regional performance. The four regions will be Atlantic Canada (NL, NS, NB, PE) Quebec, Ontario, and Western Canada (BC, AB, SK, MB, NT, NU, YK)

Debates will be bi-lingual where qualifying; any region where at least 25% have knowledge of any language, will have that language allowed in the debate. Given knowledge of French is only 19% in Atlantic Canada, this means only Quebec will see a bi-lingual debate at this time. Note that this applies for any language. If, for example, one day 25% of Western Canada has knowledge of Spanish, then Spanish will be allowed in said debate. English, understood by at least 45% of the population in every region would thus be present in every regional debate, at least at this time. Any languages allowed as a bi-lingual language in any regional debate will be allowed in the two canada-wide debates.

For example. Lets say that in 50 years, English drops under 25% in Quebec, but Spanish raises above 25% in Western Canada. In that case, the Quebec debate will be French only, while the Western debate will be English and Spanish. Federal debates will be English, French, and Spanish. Simultaneous translation will be provided.

Any party polling at least 5% in the region in question, gets 1 "point" towards qualifying for the debate. Polling at least 10% gets another "point" in addition to any you've earned for being above 5%. Holding 1 seat earns you 1 "point" while holding you 2 or more seats gets you another "point". Qualifying in any other region for debate gets you a bonus "point" as well, so long as you qualified on the first four points alone and not qualified based on this 'qualify in any other region' bonus point. Any party with 3 or more points, qualifies for the debate. In the event of a vacant seat, that seat is counted based on the party that held it prior to the vacancy.


On a date between 21 and 28 days prior to the election, the "Qualification" will be calculated, and any party qualifying for any regional debate, is invited to a Federal debate. Parties may send any single person to said debate that they wish (it does not need to be the leader)

On dates between 14 and 21 days prior to the election, each of the 4 regional debates take place. As with the federal debate, parties may send anyone they wish. The debates can even be on the same date and time.

On a date between 7 and 14 days prior to the election, a second and final federal debate takes place.