The Impact of the Debates – April 18, 2025

The Leaders' Debate Commission has come under fire this week for its administration of the English and French debates. The commission received a lot of criticism for the presence of right-wing media organizations in the French post-debate scrum, and the cancellation the following day of the English post-debate scrum because of “security concerns.” CPAC’s Michael Serapio discusses the work of the Commission and what the future holds for it with bureau chiefs Robert Fife (The Globe and Mail), Tonda MacCharles (Toronto Star) and Joël-Denis Bellavance (La Presse). Strategists Michele Cadario (Liberal), Jordan Paquet (Conservative) and George Soule (NDP) also share their assessments about the performances of the federal party leaders in the English debate, as well as how the parties should use those performances and carry that forward into that last week of campaigning before Election Day.