Leaders of Ontario's three biggest political parties will answer questions from the public and maybe throw verbal jabs at one another while trying to exude an aura of leadership during Thursday's 90-minute televised debate.
Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty, Conservative Leader John Tory and NDP Leader Howard Hampton will attempt to answer questions submitted in advance by text and videotape by Ontario citizens.
They'll also field some questions pitched by moderator Steve Paikin, a TVO journalist.
Once they've all answered a given question, they'll be given some time to debate.
The 90-minute event at CBC's Toronto Broadcast Centre will be aired live starting 6:30 p.m. ET on CBC-TV, CTV, Global, Citytv, CP24, TVO and CPAC and streamed live on most of the media outlets' websites.
First debate for Tory
It will be the first Ontario leaders debate for Tory, who said he has already planned his attack.
"I'm just looking forward to what I hope will be a constructive discussion of Mr. McGuinty's record," Tory said. "I'm just going to go in and try to be myself."
Hampton, who along with McGuinty has two Ontario leaders debates behind him, said he'll remind viewers that not enough has changed under the Liberal government, despite McGuinty's 2003 campaign slogan of "Choose change."
"As you go around Ontario you find many people are still wondering: where's the change?" he said.
Liberal campaign chairman Greg Sorbara said he expects McGuinty to face heavy and sustained attacks from both the left and right political flanks.
"I think it's going to be vicious, I think it's going to be unseemly and I think it's not going to score many points with the people, but I think they're going to do it anyway," he said.
De Jong to debate on internet
Green Party Leader Frank de Jong, who was not invited to the debate, will be watching it from a public party at the Pantages Hotel and Spa in Toronto.
He plans to answer the questions launched at the other leaders and broadcast his responses on the internet.
"The televised leaders' debate plays an important role in our democracy because it gives voters a chance to compare their choices and evaluate the leaders," de Jong said in a statement, adding that the Green Party event is intended to make sure voters hear what he has to say.
With files from the Canadian PressRelated
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Ontario Votes 2007 »
- McGuinty wins massive majority, Tory loses seat
- Dalton McGuinty won a second majority government for the Liberals in Ontario on Wednesday night, a triumph for a party that earlier expressed fears of a drop to minority status.
- Ontario rejects electoral reform in referendum
- Ontario voters have rejected a proposed electoral reform that would have seen some provincial legislators chosen based on a party's share of the popular vote, results showed Thursday.
- Ontario voter turnout a record low
- The percentage of eligible voters casting ballots in Wednesday's Ontario election hit an all-time low despite changes introduced in an effort to boost turnout.
- Ont. Green party scores 8 per cent of vote
- No Green party candidates made it to the Ontario legislature in Wednesday's election, but that defeat was sweetened by a swell in their share of the popular vote, which more than doubled.
- McGuinty only leader not facing leadership questions
- Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty won re-election in Ottawa South and NDP Leader Howard Hampton again won his northern Ontario riding of Kenora-Rainy River. PC Leader John Tory was defeated.
District Profiles
More Ontario Votes Headlines »
- McGuinty wins massive majority, Tory loses seat
- Dalton McGuinty won a second majority government for the Liberals in Ontario on Wednesday night, a triumph for a party that earlier expressed fears of a drop to minority status.
- Ontario rejects electoral reform in referendum
- Ontario voters have rejected a proposed electoral reform that would have seen some provincial legislators chosen based on a party's share of the popular vote, results showed Thursday.
- Ontario voter turnout a record low
- The percentage of eligible voters casting ballots in Wednesday's Ontario election hit an all-time low despite changes introduced in an effort to boost turnout.
- Ont. Green party scores 8 per cent of vote
- No Green party candidates made it to the Ontario legislature in Wednesday's election, but that defeat was sweetened by a swell in their share of the popular vote, which more than doubled.
- McGuinty only leader not facing leadership questions
- Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty won re-election in Ottawa South and NDP Leader Howard Hampton again won his northern Ontario riding of Kenora-Rainy River. PC Leader John Tory was defeated.
