Federal election debates

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Federal election debate
January 10–17, 2016

Rules: Each candidate will give an opening statement and answers to three general questions, followed by a personal question regarding their performance as party leader. Candidates are allowed up to two rebuttals of other candidates. The debate will close with Turn Two of the federal election campaign at the end of the day on Thursday, after which I will announce the results of the debate and award a bonus of twenty-five Campaign Points to the winner.

General Questions:
(1) Last month, the national statistical agency announced the national unemployment had risen to 7.1%, having steadily increased over the course of 2015; the national GDP is down from $1.8 trillion in 2013 to just over $1.6 trillion in 2015. What measures would you introduce to put Canadian's back to work and increase economic productivity?
(2) Since the failure of the Charlottetown Accord in 1992, no prime minister has succeeded in passing significant changes to Canada's Constitution; yet many of you have said it is time for a fresh attempt. What reforms do you propose, if any, and how would you overcome the formidable obstacles that any attempt to revise the Constitution would face?
(3) After armed gunmen inspired by international terrorist movements shot and killed Canadian servicemen on Parliament Hill in Ottawa and in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, then Prime Minister Stephen Harper introduced legislation to expand the so-called war on terror. Do you support military action against terrorists in the Middle East, and what precautions would you take to protect Canadians from lone wolf terrorism here at home?

Personal Questions
For Justin Trudeau: Since calling this election last month, you have been frequently criticized for sending Canadians back to the polls mere months after the longest campaign in history and of putting party politics before the national interest. How do you answer those who say this election is no more than a brazen power grab by an ambitious politician?

For Andrew Scheer: In your party's platform, you say this election is a choice between change under you, or more of the same under Justin Trudeau; yet prior to October, Canada was led by a Conservative government for nearly a decade. How can your party claim to be a voice for change when it spent the last nine years holding the reigns of power?

For Nikki Ashton: At the end of tonight's debate, you will have led your party for barely over a week since taking over for Jagmeet Singh. Why should Canadian's trust you to lead the government when you have only recently begun to cement your position as party leader?

For Rhéal Fortin: Your party's platform calls for increasing federal spending in Quebec, and you have criticized Justin Trudeau for calling a snap election when those funds might have otherwise have gone to your province; yet the stated aim of your party is to achieve greater autonomy, even independence, for Quebec. Is it not a contradiction to take more money from Ottawa with one hand while cutting the bonds of confederation with the other?

For Elizabeth May: Your party is built on a promise to increase protections for the environment; but recently, other parties have made proposals to cut emissions and invest in renewable energy. Why should Canadians vote for you when they can vote for another party with similar policies and, statistically, a much better chance of being elected?

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Results of the 1st Leaders' Debate

With the leaders of the three major parties forgoing an appearance in the first debate, Rhéal Fortin had  a notably reduced audience for what was widely received as a strong performance by the leader of Bloc Québecois. Fortin's presence won him points for transparency and leadership in contrast to the absent Trudeau, helping him to appear a credible voice for the Quebecois interests in Ottawa. His strong answer on the economy was very well received, though his support for air strikes in the Middle East worried some of his liberal supporters. His answer to the personal question was also criticized by some as contradictory, though others faulted the moderator for tripping-up Fortin with an unfair question.

Viewer Poll

Did you approve or disapprove of Rheal Fortin's performance in tonight's leaders' debate?

Approve		86%
Disapprove		9%
Unsure		5%

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

2nd federal election debate
January 25–31, 2016

Rules: Each candidate will give an opening statement and answers to three general questions, followed by a personal question (which is the same for all candidates this turn) regarding their performance as party leader. Candidates are allowed up to two rebuttals of other candidates. The debate will close with Turn Two of the federal election campaign at the end of the day on Thursday, after which I will announce the results of the debate and award a bonus of twenty-five Campaign Points to the winner.

General Questions:
(1) Global temperatures have been rising steadily since the turn of the century: 2015 was the hottest year on record, a trend many scientists have attributed to the increase in carbon emissions over the past century. What do you propose to do to reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses and protect the environment generally?
(2) In the last month, you have all spoken with voters in ridings across the country to make the case for your party's vision for the future of Canada; yet however grand the vision or bold the reform, ultimately, nothing happens in Ottawa unless we pay for it. How would you propose to finance your program, and what changes would you make to the federal tax code?
(3) A 2015 survey of 78,000 people from around the world ranked Canada as the country most favorably thought of beyond its borders. How do you view Canada's relationship with the rest of the word, and what part should Canada play in international affairs?

Personal Question:
For all candidates: Government is a team sport, and yet inevitably much of the burden of leadership falls directly on the shoulders of the prime minister. Why are you the right person to lead Canada for the next four years, and what unique qualities do you bring to the table?

[Unconditional Surrender Truman]

Results of the 2nd Leaders' Debate

Better attended and far more lively than its predecessor, the second leaders' debate drew large audiences across Canada and featured strong performances by each of the three main contenders for prime minister. Pundits generally judged NDP's Nikki Ashton to have "won" the debate, though that is not to overlook noteworth performances by Scheer and Trudeau, while Rheal Fortin was judged a weaker presence compared to his widely-praised performance at the first debate.

Nikki Ashton   The NDP Leader made an assertive and compelling argument for her party's program and her own readiness to be prime minister. Ashton's answers were thorough, detailed, and accessible, clearly differentiating her party from the opposition while highlighting her personal achievements, and her French answer will certainly not hurt her among Francophone Canadians.

Andrew Scheer   Scheer hit all the right notes in his responses, clearly outlining the Conservative platform and making the case for his party's return to power. His answers were poised and comprehensive, and his choice to portray himself as a bridge-builder may well prove decisive should the election result in a hung parliament. While his answer on finance was taken by some as a long-winded attempt to dodge the question (Scheer never specifying what changes, if any, he would propose to the tax code), overall his performance was taken as a net positive for the Conservative campaign.

Justin Trudeau   The prime minister answered the three general questions sufficiently, and his directness was praised by some as a welcome antidote to the verbosity of his opponents. Others took his reticence for apathy, and his response to the personal question generally failed to inspire confidence.

Rheal Fortin   Fortin's efforts to restore the Bloc as Quebec's voice in Ottawa were clearly evident in his debate performance, and his emphasis on leadership repeated a line of attack that has borne good fruit on the campaign trail. That said, his answers to the general questions left something to be desired; while sufficient, Fortin at times sounded like he was doing no more than reciting his platform, and he suffered from comparison to Ashton's eloquence.

Viewer Poll

Who won the second leaders' debate?

Ashton		41%
Scheer		29%
Trudeau		20%
Fortin		10%