OTTAWA, ON, April 14, 2025 /CNW/ - Selected by the Leaders' Debates Commission to produce two federal leaders' debates,
CBC/Radio-Canada today announced the debates' themes and formats.
- Both debates will be broadcast live from the atrium of Maison de Radio-Canada in Montreal.
- Each debate will be 120 minutes in length without commercial interruption, featuring similar formats, with an emphasis on open debate and questions asked by a single moderator.
- Each debate will feature five main editorial themes, as outlined below.
The English-language debate will be moderated by Steve Paikin, host of TVO's flagship current affairs program The Agenda with Steve Paikin, on Thursday, April 17 at 7 p.m. (EDT). The English debate themes are as follows, in alphabetical order:
Affordability and the cost of living
Energy and climate
Leading in a crisis
Public safety and security
Tariffs and threats to Canada
Last week, the parties participated in draws to determine podium positions for both the French and English debates, as well as the order of arrivals and post-debate scrums.