Organizers for a national event to hold more than 100 local candidate debates on the environment during the federal election campaign say their efforts are threatened by plans to hold a leaders’ debates on Oct. 7.

Environmental groups GreenPAC and Équiterre expressed disappointment in Wednesday’s announcement by the Leaders’ Debate Commission of its intention to hold the English-language leaders’ debate on the same day as 100 or more debates in ridings spread across Canada were previously scheduled to be held.

The leaders’ debates will be a heavily televised and promoted event set to gobble up Canadians’ attention as they decide which party to vote for in the election.

READ MORE: Proposed dates for federal election debates set for second week of October

GreenPAC, a non-partisan advocacy group promoting political candidates that support environmental action, is co-ordinating the “100 Debates on the Environment” using volunteer organizers at the grassroots level. Équiterre is offering support in Quebec.

GreenPAC’s executive director Sabrina Bowman said work on the event has been underway for months now and an official announcement was held in June. So far, half of all organizers have heard back from candidates.

Bowman said those who would attend their local debates would also want to watch the leaders debate.

“I think that both us, and the commission, would agree that it’s not optimal for them to be at the same time,” she said. “It’s a net loss for democracy.”

Bowman said GreenPAC will have to speak to individual organizers, some of whom paid out of their own pockets to book venue sites, to determine what they’re willing and able to do now.

A press release from the organization Thursday stated that “in some cases, debate hosts will simply be unable to find an alternative and the debate will not take place.”

The Leaders’ Debate Commission’s executive director, Michel Cormier, said in a statement that it is not reconsidering the dates for the leaders’ debates.

“But we have said that we’re willing to help make their debates — or any other debates — successful,” he said.

“We have been speaking with them to find ways that we might be able to support one another. We look forward to continuing those conversations.”

READ MORE: 61% of Canadians want government to take action on climate change even if economy suffers: poll

Bowman said holding the 100 debates is important because the environment and fighting climate change has evolved into one of the most important electoral issues in Canada.

“This is going to be a huge point of discussion during the election, there’s no way that it can’t be,” she said. “We have the conversation around climate change and the environment happening all the time, federally provincially and municipally.”

The commission announced Wednesday that two leaders’ debates — one in English and one in French — will occur some time during the second week of October. The events will be produced and broadcasted by a consortium of news organizations that include CBC, CTV, Global and the Toronto Star.

GreenPAC had asked the commission to not hold a leaders’ debate on the date and a July 23 meeting with the office failed to offer up any meaningful resolution.

In 2015, GreenPAC endorsed 18 candidates from the four main national federal parties for their commitments to environmental action.

Bowman said discussions with the commission will continue.

Follow @jolsonlim