Debate format all but assures gong show
Amid the usual clutching of pearls by pundits over the election leaders’ debate — oh, the humanity, no one’s answering the questions, everyone’s talking over each other, and some of them are saying mean things — the debate was thoroughly predictable.
Canada’s broadcasters have consistently delivered a format that guarantees uninspiring and frustrating debates — almost as if they want it this way.
Choose five overly generalized and simplistic “themes” (leadership, polarization, affordability, climate change and Indigenous issues) try to shoehorn answers into small time blocks, and have six people all jostling for space, each desperately trying to drop in their rehearsed line at just the right time. What could possibly go wrong? Or right?
The NDP’S Jagmeet Singh clearly emerged in the best shape, not because he was a better debater (his platform is a throwback to old school, failed 1970s welfare-statism) but he seemed authentic, likable and winner of the “who you’d most like to go for coffee with” test.
All of the leaders essentially did what they had to, the exception being Liberal Justin Trudeau, who seemed quieter and more restrained than usual, not from a newfound role as statesman but from being pummelled for two hours.
In good old “Canada the nice,” home of egalitarianism (even in political debate), here is what should happen but never will: Using public opinion polls and the House of Commons seat count, set up a debate between the two leaders with the greatest likelihood of forming government.
In most elections this would be the leaders of the Liberal and Conservative parties. In rarer situations of more than two parties vying to govern, include them. Only true contenders for government would be in the main debate.
Picture Andrew Scheer and Justin Trudeau facing a single debate moderator (hint: a debate should be about the debaters, not the number of referees.) The moderator would then ask an array of tough, precise and focused questions, push the participants for detailed answers and unforgivingly enforce time limits. Global’s Dawna Friesen would be a natural.
There should also be one or more undercard debates where the other leaders would square off. It would give voters an opportunity to see the leaders of smaller parties, and those who might hold the balance of power in a minority Parliament. The interrupting and rambling one-issue Green party leader could have it out with the newly cool NDP leader, while the pedantic and politically myopic Bloc Québécois leader could strut his stuff with the People’s Party of Canada.
While the party spin doctors and media proxies all claim that their candidates won, many Canadians do not watch the leaders’ debate, preferring instead to rely on highlights, their friends’ reviews and news coverage of the event. It is also the starting point for most people to take more notice of the election campaign.
The last word for election watching — and, for that matter, a lot of things these days — comes from comedian and talk-show host Ellen Degeneres.
After Hollywood and political elites vilified her for being seen in public sitting with former U.S. president George W. Bush at a football game, Ellen addressed the furor magnificently.
“During the game they showed a picture of George and me laughing. People were upset. They thought ‘why is a gay Hollywood liberal sitting next to a conservative Republican President?’ A lot of people were mad.
“I’m friends with George Bush. In fact, I’m friends with a lot of people who don’t share the same beliefs that I have. We’re all different. And I think that we’ve forgotten that it’s OK that we’re all different. Just because I don’t agree with someone on everything doesn’t mean that I’m not going to be friends with them.
“When I say ‘be kind to one another’ I don’t mean only the people who think the same way you do. I mean be kind to everyone.”
John Gormley is a broadcaster, lawyer, author and former Progressive Conservative MP whose radio talk show is heard weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on 650 CKOM Saskatoon and 980 CJME Regina.