First Ever Election Foreign Policy Debate

Dear Munk Debate Member,



We are pleased that Stephen Harper and Thomas Mulcair have confirmed their participation in a Munk Debate focusing exclusively on Canada’s foreign policy. Too often foreign policy issues have been afterthoughts in past federal election campaigns. By holding this debate during the election, we aim to bring greater public scrutiny to bear on the foreign policy prescriptions of the three federal party leaders recognized in Parliament.



While the participants have agreed in principle to hold this foreign policy debate, a variety of details will need to be finalized before this debate can be formally confirmed. We look forward to a constructive dialogue with representatives of the party leaders in the coming weeks on the debate format, topics, timing and a variety of other logistic issues.



Finally, a word about how the Munk Debates arrived at its decision to invite the three federal party leaders recognized in Parliament to a standalone debate on foreign policy.



There are two ways in which someone is a leader of a party in Canada. The first is by Elections Canada which formally registers political parties under the Elections Canada Act. The second is by the Parliament of Canada Act where a party is recognized if 12 or more MPs identify as such in the House of Commons.



Munk Debate staff chose the second of these two officially established criteria to identify the party leaders who would be invited to participate in the debate, that being three individuals who lead parties recognized by the Parliament of Canada Act in the House of Commons. These individuals are Stephen Harper, Thomas Mulcair and Justin Trudeau. It was our determination that inviting all the leaders of the federally registered parties recognized by Elections Canada, parties who also have MPs in Parliament, numbering six in total, to our standalone event would unduly limit our ability to hold a substantive debate.



As a valued Munk Debates member, we look forward to keeping you up to date on our progress organizing this debate. We will be sure to make ticketing information available to you when we have finalized the details of the debate.



Thank you in advance for your patience,



Yours sincerely, Rudyard Griffiths

Chair, The Munk Debates

@rudyardg

