They've been preparing for days and finally, the leaders of the three main political parties for the Nov. 7 Saskatchewan election will square off tonight in a live televised debate.
The NDP's Lorne Calvert, the Saskatchewan Party's Brad Wall and the Liberals' David Karwacki will hit the airwaves, TV and radio, starting at 6:30 p.m. CT.
The debate comes just a week before people vote.
And while neither Wall nor Calvert expect it to define the entire election campaign, they believe it will help some people decide.
Calvert says that means he's practising being concise.
"Much of the preparation is to try and really get honed on how you can communicate your position in a clear way that people can see the clear choice," he said.
The candidates are not predicting a so-called knock-out punch. Wall said the last one of those was probably more two decades ago during a federal debate.
(In the 1984 federal leaders debate, the Progressive Conservatives' Brian Mulroney struck a blow against Liberal John Turner on the subject of patronage appointments when he said, "You had an option, sir." The PCs went on to win the election.)
All candidates will undoubtedly have taken a look back at the 2003 debate.
That one began with Calvert and Karwacki smiling, and a serious-looking Saskatchewan Party Leader Elwin Hermanson standing with his fists clenched behind the podium
"I don't know if it was a draw or what it was, but I do believe debates are important, especially the timing of this one," Wall said.
It's Wall's first TV debate as leader, but he has already engaged in numerous, often heated debates with Calvert in the legislature.
For Karwacki, it's the opposite situation: His party didn't have any seats in the last legislature, but he has experience debating Calvert in the 2003 contest.
The televised debate airing on Global, CBC-TV, and CTV follows a different format from last time, when journalists quizzed the leaders. This time, six members of the public will submit questions to the leaders by video. Debate moderator Holly Preston will submit three more questions.
The debate is also being broadcast on CBC Radio and is being streamed live on the internet at cbc.ca/saskvotes2007.
Related
Video
- Geoff Leo reports for CBC-TV (Runs: 3:15)
- Play: Real Media »
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Saskatchewan Votes 2007 »
- Saskatchewan Party wins majority government
- Only 10 years into its existence as a political force, the Saskatchewan Party will form a majority government and its leader Brad Wall will be the new premier.
- NDP had a 'good run in government'
- A desire for change pushed the NDP out of 16 years of rule in Saskatchewan, but leader Lorne Calvert said the party has no regrets.
- Liberals fail again to elect single MLA
- The third time was not a charm for Liberal Leader David Karwacki, as voters in Saskatoon Meewasin rebuffed his efforts for elected office.
- Shift in urban vote handed seats to Sask. Party
- The seeds of victory were sown in Regina and Saskatoon, where the Saskatchewan Party picked up five seats — but there were gains in other urban areas, too, that helped seal the election win.
- NDP holds on in Regina, but loses 3 seats
- Fortress Regina continued to stand for the NDP when the dust of Wednesday's election had settled, though its foundation was shaken by a trio of Saskatchewan Party wins.
Constituency Profiles
More Saskatchewan Votes Headlines »
- Saskatchewan Party wins majority government
- Only 10 years into its existence as a political force, the Saskatchewan Party will form a majority government and its leader Brad Wall will be the new premier.
- NDP had a 'good run in government'
- A desire for change pushed the NDP out of 16 years of rule in Saskatchewan, but leader Lorne Calvert said the party has no regrets.
- Liberals fail again to elect single MLA
- The third time was not a charm for Liberal Leader David Karwacki, as voters in Saskatoon Meewasin rebuffed his efforts for elected office.
- Shift in urban vote handed seats to Sask. Party
- The seeds of victory were sown in Regina and Saskatoon, where the Saskatchewan Party picked up five seats — but there were gains in other urban areas, too, that helped seal the election win.
- NDP holds on in Regina, but loses 3 seats
- Fortress Regina continued to stand for the NDP when the dust of Wednesday's election had settled, though its foundation was shaken by a trio of Saskatchewan Party wins.
