KEY DEVELOPMENTS

Just five days after the official launch of what will be the longest election campaign in modern Canadian political history, the leaders of the four major federal parties will face off for the first time before voters head to the polls later this fall.

Here’s a quick primer on what to expect from the Maclean’s National Leaders Debate:

When: It will be broadcast live from 8-10 p.m. ET on Thursday night.

Where can you watch it: On all City stations, as well as OMNI.1, OMNI.2, and the Canadian Public Affairs Channel (CPAC). It will also air on Rogers Radio across the country and will be live-streamed on Macleans.ca.

Participants: Conservative leader Stephen Harper, New Democrat leader Tom Mulcair, Green leader Elizabeth May, and Liberal leader Justin Trudeau, who gets the first question

Note: This is currently the only scheduled leaders’ debate at which both Harper and May are expected to be in attendance.

Venue: City/OMNI Television in Toronto

Moderator: Maclean’s political editor Paul Wells

Studio audience: No. Format: The questions have been prepared by Wells and the Maclean’s team of journalists and will cover at least three areas:

The economy, energy and the environment. The health of Canada’s democratic institutions. Foreign policy and security

The post-debate leaders’ scrums will get underway immediately after the event wraps up, although the candidates are not required to take part. Once the dust settles, and the pontificating over who won and who lost is finished, you’ll probably be itching to watch another debate, right? Here’s what you have to look forward to:

THURSDAY, SEPT. 17

Hosts: Globe and Mail/ Google

Confirmed: Conservative Leader Stephen Harper, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau

Invited: NDP Leader Tom Mulcair

Monday, Sept. 28

Host: Munk Debates

Confirmed: Harper

Invited: Trudeau, Mulcair Friday, Oct. 2 Host: TVA (French)

Confirmed: Harper, Mulcair, Trudeau, Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 7 (FRENCH) / THURSDAY, OCT. 8 (ENGLISH)

Host(s): Broadcast Consortium — CBC News, CTV News, Global News, Radio-Canada, Télé-Québec and La Presse

Confirmed: Trudeau, May Invited: Mulcair

Declined: Harper The Citizen will have full coverage of Thursday night’s debate, including a live blog by Kady O’Malley, which will begin before 7 p.m. You can also follow Kady on Twitter.