The Bloc should never have been allowed in these debates.

Also haven't seen any streeters yet. They had them last night.

Mr. Singh is starting to antagonise.

RadioActive wrote:

Dale Patterson wrote:

Wish they would try a town hall format, rather than standing at podiums.

Too many interruptions by partisan applause if they tried that. The only result is more time wasted. 

Like an early-days FOX television show?

I'm a lot like my late father - I can't stand any politician.

But Singh has been nothing but obnoxious the whole night and won't let anyone finish. He really is not helping his cause by being so annoying.

I've never sworn so much at my TV since I bought it years ago. Honestly, I wish they'd throw him right out of the place if he won't obey the rules. Enough already. 

I dislike politicians too. The only genuine one I've ever met was Tom Mulcair. Not a whiff of smug or smarm on the guy.

The real question is: which of these Four Horsemen would you let buy you a beer?

Yves-Francois hands down for me. But he'll never directly affect me.

Last edited by Binson Echorec (April 17, 2025 8:48 pm)

RadioActive wrote:

The Star is reporting that there will be no post-debate scrums after this is over. Shame on the Debate Commission for all their decisions on this mess. 

CTV is reporting that this resulted from Ezra Levant getting into a shouting match with another journalist backstage.

Last edited by MJ Vancouver (April 17, 2025 8:45 pm)

I don't know who won, but I know who lost. 

If these guys are the best we have, it's the entire country!

I got almost nothing out of that except two lost hours. 

[Edit] Best post debate comment came on CFRB, where Bill Carroll sent a message to Jagmeet Singh: "SHUT UP!"

For his part, John Moore compared him to his terrier, who "barks at everything." I was out walking my dog listening to it, and both made me laugh out loud, which got me some strange looks. 

Last edited by RadioActive (April 17, 2025 9:14 pm)

paterson1 wrote:

I thought the format for both debates was fine.  They covered a lot of ground and I thought Steve Paiken did a good job moderating.  Singh did interrupt too much, but he also had nothing to lose since his party seems to be crushed by both the Liberals and Conservatives.  The NDP may not even win enough seats to be considered an official party if the polls are correct.

Well, since this was a debate, I'm entitled to a rebuttal. Singh gained nothing by doing what he did. In fact, Bill Carroll mentioned on the post game show that the words "Shut Up" were trending on social media posts across the country.  So I wasn't the only one who was annoyed by his constant heckling. On the contrary, I thought he lost more of an opportunity than he gained by such idiotic behaviour. And yes, I think the NDP will be wiped out a week from Monday and he won't be leader for long after that.

paterson1 wrote:

IRA, we have nothing to learn from the US when it comes to debates.  Wednesday and Thursday's were far superior to anything we witnessed in the amateur and pointless presidential debates last fall.

I wasn't insinuating that the abortion that was that debate was good. But turning off the mics might have made it at least watchable/listenable. I actually listened to it on the radio more than watched it and that just made the constant hectoring worse. But shutting off every mic, it would have been far more useful, so we could all follow what the candidates were actually saying. Just because the U.S. did it (once), doesn't make it wrong. 

paterson1 wrote:

IIf you didn't get much out of it is your fault, not the content of the debate.  And you even said you can't stand any politician.  Why did you even bother tuning in then, you have already decided that the debate will be a waste of time.   I thought there was a lot of policy and some good ideas from both Poilivre and Carney.  You have to listen to what they are saying.

There was no way I could know I would get nothing out of it until it actually aired. I learned almost nothing about what any of them stood for, with little to no new information presented. On the contrary to your assertion, if I hadn't watched, I'd have no right to an opinion. It's like that old canard, if you don't vote, you don't have a right to complain. I consider watching it a civic duty and despite my disappointment in the outcome, I'm not entirely sorry I did. 

paterson1 wrote:

IThe moderator on the french debate did cut Jagmeet's microphone when he insisted on talking about healthcare when the topic was something else.  That's why Singh was petulant after the french debate.

Doesn't give him the right to act like a petulant brat and depriving voters of a true debate - the only one in English we're getting. 

paterson1 wrote:

Whatever committee was in charge of the debates have a little explaining to do.  Not for the actual debates which generally were well done, but about the sudden cancelling of the Greens taking part a few hours before.

And how did non journalists from Rebel News and True North hijack the scrums after the french debate and the cancelling of scrums after the english.  All Rebel wants is video themselves distrupting events so they can put it on their website to raise money for their activist movement.  Watch for these clowns to be on FOX News Network in the days ahead, telling America how democracy is dead in Canada.  And of course the guppies on FOX will be eating this up. 

On this, at least, we agree. The Commission needs a good housecleaning. Their actions were inexcusable and there are a lot of questions about what they did. No debate about that!

I watched it. In my opinion it was just more of the same. Carny dodging, Singh bellowing , Poilievre repeating the same annoying slogans repeatedly. I felt the most genuine moment was the very end statement by Poilievre, he seemed choked up somewhat. I'm heading to the advance poll today. The debate did nothing to alter my intention. 

I do agree that Singh did interrupt too much but as mentioned it is doubtful this will be reflected in more votes.  Many people speak fondly of Jack Layton but he was dreadful in debates and would talk over the other leaders much more than Singh did last night. 

Production values for both debates as Aytononline mentions was good.  I thought the set was very attractive and having one moderator is better than having two or three.  Although with one moderator they have a lot more work to do and keeping everyone in line.  The moderator of the french debate, Patrice Roy was all business and didn't let the candidates get off topic.  Hence him cutting off Singh when he always was trying to get back to healthcare. 

One thing that nobody has mentioned was the fact that both debates actually did have a lot of content, but as I said you need to listen to what the candidates are saying.  Also gratifying that our politicians for the most part are civil and respectful in situations like these.  We didn't have a debate that was three quarters personal attacks, with no substance and constant grandstanding with rampant misinformation and outright lies. 

For that alone these important french and english debates this should be recognized and acknowledged.

I always vote on election day and have voted in every Federal and Provincial Election since I was legally permitted to do so. I agree with RA's philosophy that if one doesn't vote, then one has lost the right to comment on the government that was elected. For the last 30 years I have always voted at the elementary school next door to where I live or a Library/community center across the street. For some reason, this election I vote at a Jewish Synagogue, but still within walking distance from my home.

I voted yesterday around 2:30pm.  When I drove into the advance polling location I noticed about 4 cars leaving.  Inside only one person ahead of me.  I was told by one of the staff that my timing was perfect since they had been busy up until about 2:30, especially right after 11am.  The numbers for the advance polls should come out tomorrow, but indications are that a lot of people voted early over the long weekend.

CBC/Radio Canada posts some impressive numbers for both the English and French debates:

https://www.cbc.ca/mediacentre/press-release/historic-audiences-turned-to-cbc-for-the-canadian-federal-leaders-debates-o

TV writer and critic extraodinaire, Bill Bioux has the numbers.  Over 4.6 million Canadians tuned in the english debate last week, and 4 million listening in on CBC Radio One.  From Brioux.tv..https://brioux.tv/blog/2025/04/22/the-big-winner-in-thursdays-leaders-debate-the-network-one-leader-wants-to-defund/