Leaders to go head-to-head in televised debates

The format for the televised federal leaders’ debates has been announced, and it appears Michael Igantieff will be getting his wish.

The Liberal Leader will officially get the chance to face Conservative Leader Stephen Harper in a round of head-to-head deliberations during the controversial leaders’ debates.

For that matter, each leader will get the opportunity to go one-on-one with the others for six-minutes on a certain topic, followed by a 14-minute free-for-all.

“Really, [this is] one of the rare opportunities for our political leaders to actually challenge each other on the issues of the day,” Executive Producer Mark Bulgutch said. “The six-minute round will be followed by about 14-minutes of all four leaders, so the other two leaders will join the debate on that same topic.”

The order of the individual debates was decided by a draw system, and Harper and Ignatieff are set to face-off in the third round of both the English and French debates.

The producers have also decided to scrap the opening statements to keep the debates lively, as well as shorten the closing remarks to a brief 45 seconds.

Further changes include the leaders taking the traditional position of standing at a podium rather than sitting at a table.

The English debate is scheduled to take place April 12, while the French debate will air April 14.

Both are to be held in Ottawa and all of the questions being asked will be written by Canadians.