The head of Canada’s Leaders’ Debates Commission has proposed ceasing the organization of post-debate news conferences and implementing changes to the leader invitation process following controversy surrounding the recent leadership debate. Michel Cormier, the executive director of the commission, presented recommendations from the report on the 2025 federal leadership debates to a committee of MPs. Although the debates themselves were deemed successful, Cormier acknowledged various issues that led to controversy during the events.
One notable incident was the abrupt cancellation of a news conference scheduled after the English-language debate, where leaders were supposed to answer questions from reporters. The decision came after right-wing media outlets, including Rebel News, dominated the Q&A sessions following the previous French debate. Tensions escalated further in the media room before the English debate, prompting the commission to bring in additional RCMP security and eventually cancel the Q&A session due to concerns about the environment.
The commission had previously faced scrutiny for accrediting certain media outlets. While Rebel News had contested accreditation challenges in past elections, the commission opted not to engage in a similar legal battle this time. Cormier admitted to not being aware that Rebel News Network Ltd. was registered with Elections Canada as a third-party advocacy group, which could have influenced accreditation decisions.
Moving forward, the commission will still handle media accreditation for debates, but party leaders will be responsible for holding their own news scrums if desired. Additionally, there were debates over the initial inclusion of the Green Party in the recent debates, prompting calls for a revision in how leaders are invited. The criteria for participation include having at least one sitting MP from the party, obtaining four percent national support in polls, and endorsing candidates in 90 percent of ridings before the election.
To streamline the process, the commission will now wait for the final list of confirmed candidates from Elections Canada before determining who meets the criteria. Despite challenges in the lead-up to the debates, Cormier emphasized that the debates themselves ran smoothly, attracting a larger viewership compared to previous elections while managing costs more efficiently. The Leaders’ Debates Commission, established in 2019, remains dedicated to overseeing federal leadership debates.