Procedure and House Affairs committee  We're not actively planning just yet, but we're absolutely open-minded about it. I think we are waiting for the issue to evolve a bit. I think what you're doing as a committee will contribute a lot to that, so watch this space.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I'm going to do a very quick answer to all three. First, on what the people want, let's start with research. There's no empirical evidence that I know of where we've ever asked people what they expect out of the debates. I think we would be surprised by the answers, and that sho

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I would have to agree. I think we're talking about providing more predictability and structure to something that occurs in any event. I think there is a way to make sure that it doesn't interfere with what happens at the local level.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  In support of Jane's point, I would add that the more you get to a place where you have a basket of criteria that parties have to meet, you're not making decisions based on a specific party at a specific time. The more there is public support for that suite of boxes a party needs

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I think that's why there needs to be some common understanding of meeting a majority of those criteria, or two-thirds of those criteria. For parties that have regionally concentrated seats, if you require them to have candidates across the country and other things, that may not h

Procedure and House Affairs committee  There's probably a way you can have your cake and eat it too in this case. You could probably select, as Paul was saying, a strict minimum of debates that are available across all platforms where you could be more prescriptive while not stifling other debates that may have a more

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I think form should follow function. Decide on what you want to give this commission or commissioner as a mandate, and then governance decisions will flow from that.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I would agree with that. I think you do need to take some of those decisions out of that negotiation room between political parties and broadcasters, because that's where the zero-sum game exists. I think general rules or principles that come from elsewhere that are uniformly app

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I have two quick comments in response to your question. First, I think there's an issue with the timing of those decisions. Often they're made either right on the eve of an election or even in the opening days of an election when people are still trying to decide who gets access

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I'd agree with that. Whatever this new entity will be, I think you'll want to give them some flexibility to adapt to the new environment. We're not sure how social media will play in future debate arrangements. I'm not sure you need to apply the same rules to every type of debate

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I have no view as of yet.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  It's hard to imagine the commissioner not being involved in those kinds of things. There's been an evolution in language here that I may have made up in my own mind, but it seemed that in earlier iterations, they were talking about an independent commission for debates. I've noti

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I think so. It has to be a hub, if you will, to bring in the multiple platforms. I think there's a difference between compelling even traditional platforms—broadcasters and others—to carry the signal and bring it to citizens. My sense is that making a leader's participation a

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. Good afternoon, everyone. First of all, may I commend the committee's decision to examine issues related to the governance and management of political party leaders' debates during election campaigns. I thank you sincerely for giving me this opportunity to

Electoral Reform committee  I agree with that.