Broadcasters have agreement in principle with the New Democratic Party of Canada, the Liberal Party of Canada, the Green Party of Canada and the Bloc Quebecois for televised debates

Partnerships announced with Google, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Vine and YouTube

OTTAWA, May 21, 2015 /CNW/ - Canada's largest broadcasters – CBC News, Radio-Canada, CTV News and Global News – have reached agreement in principle with the New Democratic Party of Canada, the Liberal Party of Canada, the Green Party of Canada, and the Bloc Quebecois to stage two debates. These debates, one in English and one in French, are to be held at the height of the 2015 federal election campaign.

The broadcasters also announced today new partnerships with Google, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Vine and YouTube. This arrangement will give the 2015 Leaders' debates unprecedented digital reach and make them the most modern and accessible ever, reaching voters of all ages, across the country and across all platforms.

Canada's major broadcast news organizations believe that it is in the best interest of democracy to have leaders debating issues of concern in a setting that is independent, fair and equitable. The debates will be televised and streamed on-line with simultaneous translation, and accessed in multiple ways through social networks.

The broadcasters are optimistic that this new proposal will be accepted by the Conservative Party of Canada. While disagreeing with its exclusion from the English debate, the Bloc Quebecois has agreed in principle to participate in the French language debate.

About the Broadcast Consortium
The Broadcast Consortium is a partnership between CBC News, Radio-Canada, CTV News, and Global News. Canada's major broadcasters pool their resources to ensure that the largest number of Canadians have access to leaders' debates during the height of the election campaign so they can make an informed decision about their political choices at the polls. Together with Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Vine, Google and YouTube, the networks' 2015 Leaders' Debates will reach millions of Canadians across the country and abroad, on multiple platforms, in both French and English.

SOURCE BROADCASTING CONSORTIUM

Liliane Lê, Consortium Spokesperson, 2015 Leaders' Debates, Tel: [phone], [email protected]