Roundup: The Leaders’ Debate Commission has some suggestions

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We are now on or about day seventy-seven of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and Russian forces are now pummelling the strategic port city of Odessa, especially to disrupt supply lines. This is particularly key for grain shipments, which are already being blocked by the blockade of the Black Sea, and which are going to keep driving up world food prices, and hit areas of food insecurity even harder. It also looks like Russia is increasingly using Soviet-era munitions, which suggests that they are rapidly using up their supply of precision weapons. As for the Ukrainian fighters still in Mariupol, they are appealing to the UN to evacuate their wounded as they did with the civilians beneath in the steel plant there.

Closer to home, the Leaders’ Debate Commission released their report on the 2021 federal election debates, and lo, they concluded that the formats were clumsy and had too many moderators. Gosh, you think? Setting aside the fact that they had pollster Shachi Kurl to moderate the English debate, which was a questionable choice at best, the fact that they had a line-up of journalist co-moderators boils down to the fact that the broadcasters and media outlets who participate insist on having their talent featured as part of their participation, and one has little doubt that they don’t want to participate if they don’t get their way on this, and Kurl was likely the compromise if nobody could get their own talent to be the sole moderator for the event, and lo, in her desire to be tough, she gave François Legault what he had been begging for the entire election, so good job there. (After all, it’s bad enough that the broadcasters have to give up a couple of hours of American programming prime time that they rake in the ad dollars from).

The report also noted the unhappiness with the debate format, but their recommendation of firmer control and “working with stakeholders” is a bit weak. Yes, we need a simplified format, but will the leaders actually play ball with that? The insinuation is that the leaders like the convoluted format because it is easier to draw clips from, and avoids prolonged engagements with other leaders that can draw them into *gasp!* a substantive conversation. And that’s really the rub with this whole thing—it really requires the participation of reluctant broadcasters and reluctant party leaders, and too many compromises get made along the way. I’m not sure what the solution to that winds up being in the end, because the alternatives we saw in 2015, with the myriad of debates and formats, had far less engagement and that’s not good for democracy either.

Good reads:

  • Here is an extensive look inside Justin Trudeau’s trip to Kyiv.
  • Mélanie Joly is talking about how Russian troops have planted mines in playgrounds, parks, and in front of houses in towns like Irpin.
  • Anita Anand says that the government is weighing whether or not to finally join the American ballistic missile defence programme as part of NORAD modernisation.
  • Sean Fraser is being asked to explain why 2900 Afghan interpreters have not yet been approved to come to Canada.
  • Harjit Sajjan announced $229 million in aid for Syrians who were victims of their civil war, including refugees in the region.
  • Cabinet approved a $10 billion loan guarantee to entice investment to complete the Trans Mountain Expansion, but it’s on EDC’s books and not public funds.
  • RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki told the Parliamentary Emergencies Act committee that she didn’t request the Act be invoked, but it was useful to police.
  • The head of CSIS also told that committee that they are concerned the occupation would be used to recruit more extremists, who might commit violence.
  • A group that monitors far-right extremism told the public safety committee that internet searches for far-right materials increased over the pandemic.
  • In case you forgot, the first official Conservative leadership debate happens tonight in Edmonton, and all six candidates will be participating.
  • The Bloc used their Supply Day motion to call for daily prayer to be removed from the Standing Orders.
  • During the Ontario leaders’ “northern debate,” Doug Ford was sad that he was being attacked because of his utter failures during the pandemic.
  • Alberta’s Court of Appeal (dubiously) declared that the federal Impact Assessment Act (aka the Bill C-69) is unconstitutional. The federal government is appealing.
  • Stephanie Carvin reflects on the use of strategic leaks, particularly by the US and the UK, to help shape what is happening with Ukraine repelling Russia’s invasion.
  • Heather Scoffield remarks on the government asking the Competition Bureau to look into any price gouging that might be driving inflation (but ignores the drought).
  • Susan Delacourt previews tonight’s Conservative leadership debate, and compares it (somewhat unfairly) to the Ontario leaders’ debate that happened yesterday.
  • My column lays out the new conspiracy theory that the Conservatives are trying to build in real time, while the legacy media focuses on Trudeau saying a bad word.

Odds and ends:

https://twitter.com/acoyne/status/1524164371533996032

https://twitter.com/EmmMacfarlane/status/1524072547100536833

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