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The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, P.C., M.P.Leader of the
Conservative Party of CanadaSuite 1204 - 130 Albert StreetOttawa,
Ontario K1P 5G4
The Honourable Michael Ignatieff, P.C., M.P.,Leader of the
Liberal Party of Canada,Suite 600, 81 Metcalfe Street,Ottawa,
Ontario K1P 6M8
March 31, 2011
Dear Mr. Harper and Mr. Ignatieff,
Following your public statements of March 30th, Canada 2020
would be
pleased to facilitate a one-on-one debate between the Prime
Minister and theLeader of the Opposition within a week of the
multi-party debates hosted by thetelevision broadcast
consortium.
In terms of format, we propose that Canada 2020 Advisory Board
ChairDon Newman moderate the bilingual debate. The length of the
debate will be 90minutes from start to finish. Each Leader will
make an opening statement.Following the opening statements there
will be eight (8) mini debates, four inFrench, and four in English.
Each mini debate will last approximately ten (10)minutes during
which time there will be a question posed by a panellist,
anopportunity for each Leader to provide an uninterrupted answer
followed by aperiod of free debate between the two Leaders. At the
conclusion of the debateeach Leader will have the opportunity to
summarize his position.
This debate would be held in a venue where there is no in-house
audienceand we would expect that television networks would cover
the event althoughthere is no guarantee that this will be the case.
Of course these formatsuggestions and the source of the questions
is open for discussion. However, webelieve that this format will
allow Canadians to hear directly from you and learn ofyour
contrasting positions on key issues as they make their voting
decision prior toElection Day.
Canada 2020 is a non-partisan, progressive organization that
promotes andadvances public policy dialogue on major issues facing
Canada. Canada 2020sgoal is to create an environment of social and
economic prosperity for Canada andCanadians by identifying and
developing progressive policy ideas through theengagement of
Canadas business and political and community leaders.
Canada 2020 has hosted private and public events in Canada and
the U.S.on energy, the Canadian and global economies, innovation,
development, globalfinance and social policy. Our conferences,
symposia, public panels and private
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Canada 2020 Election Debate 2
events are attended by opinion leaders, key advisors and
decision makers inmedia, government and the business and academic
communities and our publicevents are broadcast across Canada. Our
featured guests have included VicePresident Al Gore, Liberian
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, John Podesta, Bankof Canada
Governor Mark Carney, Jeffrey Sachs and Niall Ferguson. Through
these events we have developed the experience and personnel to
produce adebate of this nature.
Canada 2020 is pleased to provide you with a neutral venue and
debateformat that you have both expressed an interest in. I look
forward to hearing fromyour representatives in the coming days to
discuss this invitation in greater detail.
Yours sincerely
Don NewmanChair, Advisory BoardCanada 2020
