By Canadian Press

Federal party leaders simulate debates in rehearsals for head-to-head battles

Sep 8, 2021 | 3:42 PM

OTTAWA — Party leaders will have spent weeks simulating debates in preparation for what might prove their biggest challenge yet in the election campaign.

According to senior figures who have prepared party leaders for previous debates, leaders enlist party staff to play their political opponents in mock contests precisely simulating the debate environment. 

The Canadian Press spoke to a number of former staff who helped prepare leaders in previous elections, including Dan Nowlan, who played Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau in mock debates to prepare Tory leaders, including Stephen Harper. 

He says staff are instructed to closely study opponents’ performances in interviews and previous debates, and to bombard party leaders with difficult questions from a podium. 

Rehearsals of the debates are also filmed to see how party leaders’ responses play with an audience, as well as their reactions to attacks. 

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Karl Bélanger, who helped a number of past NDP leaders prepare for election debates, says the leaders must be well prepared for attacks, get memorable messages across and create a favourable impression.

The French-language debate between the party leaders is taking place this evening and covers climate, the cost of living, public finances, Indigenous issues, justice, foreign policy and the pandemic.

It will be followed tomorrow night by the first English-language debate, also at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Que. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 8, 2021.

The Canadian Press