The first televised national leaders' debate was held in 1968. There was one debate, half in English and half in French. They were organised by the primary Canadian news outlets of the time (CTV/CBC), working together. At this time the news was viewed as a "public good". 2/20
Robert Stanfield (PC) and Tommy Douglas (NDP) could not speak French. Real Caouette (Railliement creditiste) could not speak English. Pierre Trudeau (Lib) was fluently bilingual. Some accommodations were made. 3/20
Incidentally, in the federal election of 1962 Lester Pearson (Lib) challenged John Diefenbaker (PC) to a televised debate. Diefenbaker refused. 4/20
2 federal elections went by (1972, 1974) without any televised leaders' debates. In 1979, a debate was held. Organised by CBC/CTV/Global/TVA, all in English. It was moderated by the Dean of the Faculty of Law at Western & the questions were posed by a panel of journalists 5/20
In 1984 there were 3 debates. 1 in French, 1 in English, and a special debate in English on women's issues. 1988 saw 2 debates, one in English and one in French. The same occurred for the 1993, 1997, 2000, and 2004 elections. 6/20
In 2005/06, there were 4 debates, 2 in French and 2 in English. One pair was held in Vancouver and the other pair was held in Quebec, all with the same organisers. The 2008 election returned to the two-debate format. 7/20
2011 also had two debates, one in English and one in French. The date of the French debate had to be moved to avoid conflict with a Montreal Canadiens playoff game. 8/20
In 2015, CPC PM Stephen Harper made the unprecedented move of refusing to participate in the 2 nationally organised television debates. The CPC wanted 5 privately organised debates instead. One was hosted by Macleans magazine, one by the Globe & Mail, 9/20
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