THE MUNK DEBATE ON CANADA’S FOREIGN POLICY
Format
TIMING
Monday 28, 2015
Roy Thomson Hall - Toronto
7pm - 9pm ET
PARTICIPANTS
Stephen Harper
Thomas Mulcair
Justin Trudeau
MODERATOR
Rudyard Griffiths
SET
The leaders will stand behind lecterns on stage before a live audience of
approximately 3,000 consisting of members of the Munk Debates.
Some members of the audience will be seated on the wings of stage.
The leader’s lectern positions will be decided by draw.
There will be a stool behind each lectern.

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 Each leader and up to four campaign staff will be afforded private time
on the afternoon of the debate to see the set, check lighting, cameras,
wardrobe, and visit the dressing room if time permits.
The times for the private visits will be set in advance by draw.
Private time is not a media event and times will not be made public.
If there are any concerns that arise during the visit, they should be
brought to the attention of the executive producer.
He will endeavor to find a solution. His decisions are final.
DEBATE FORMAT
There will be 6 major segments in the debate, divided by 3 smaller
segments taking part at the mid-point of the debate.
Each major segment will begin with a question from the moderator to
one of the leaders. That leader will have up to ninety seconds to answer.
A countdown clock will be in visual range of the leader to help guide
their use of the allotted time.
Once that leader has answered there will be a one-on-one debate with
another leader. This will run approximately 7 minutes, but could run
longer or shorter based on the moderator’s and producer’s assessment
of how the debate is flowing.
Then the third leader will join the debate for another 5 minutes. Again,
this is an approximate timing.
The moderator may ask supplementary questions at any time to keep
the debate flowing and on topic.
Each leader will handle the lead-off question twice. Each leader will
debate each other leader one-on-one, twice.
The three smaller segments will begin with a question to one of the
leaders. That leader will have about 45 seconds to answer. This will not
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 be timed precisely, but if the leader goes much beyond 45 seconds, the
moderator will step in to bring in the other leaders.
Once the answer is given, there will be three-way debate for about 4
minutes.
LANGUAGE
Leaders have the opportunity to speak in the language of their choice at
any time during the debate.
The moderator will speak in the language of his choice at any time in the
debate.
The audience seated in Roy Thompson Hall will be able to see video
projection screens with closed caption translation for French to English.
The audience watching the television or web broadcast will have the
choice of French only voice and closed caption translation of the debate
or an English only voice and closed caption translation of the debate.
MODERATOR’S ROLE
The moderator will be Rudyard Griffiths, Chair of the Munk Debates.
The moderator will have sole discretion over the flow of the debate.
The moderator will ensure that each leader has a reasonable and fair
opportunity to be heard during each topical segment.
The leaders will respect each other’s right to speak in order to make
points uninterrupted.
PREPARATION
Munk Debates will provide a general list of the topics to be covered
during the debates.
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 This information will be provided to the leaders no later than 10 days
prior to the debate.
OTHER DETAILS
The leaders will be allowed to bring on stage pens and blank paper or
cards for note taking. No other print or electronic resources will be
permitted.
Each leader will be provided with a dressing room and a staff room
Makeup will be provided by each campaign.
Up to four staff may accompany the leader backstage, plus immediate
family, security detail and makeup.
A dedicated media room will be provided and the campaigns will have
access to this facility only after the debate is over.
Each campaign will have the opportunity to participate in a post-debate
scrum. The order of the scrums will be drawn by lot. Only the party
leader will be allowed to speak at the post-debate scrum.
Each scrum will last approximately 5 minutes.

COPYRIGHT
Munk Debates has production and editorial control over the debate.
Munk Debates owns the copyright for the debate.

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