As a result of their deliberations committees may make recommendations which they include in their reports for the consideration of the House of Commons or the Government. Recommendations related to this study are listed below.

Recommendation 1

That the government should proceed with establishing a new entity to organize leaders’ debates during federal elections and that entity should be established in time to organize debates during the 2019 federal general election;

That this new entity must be created in such a way to ensure its independence and neutrality;

That the new entity be mandated to educate Canadians about how debates are organized, when debates are occurring, and how Canadians can experience the debates.

Recommendation 2

That a new autonomous office be created by the government called Canada’s Federal Party Leaders’ Debates Commissioner (for short: “Debates Commissioner”). The office should be placed within Elections Canada/the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer for the purposes of sharing appropriate internal services and receiving administrative support from Elections Canada. However, the Debates Commissioner would remain autonomous from Elections Canada in fulfilling its roles and responsibilities. Elections Canada must be kept separate and insulated from any decision-making on the part of the Debates Commissioner regarding the leaders' debates;

That the first Debates Commissioner must be chosen by a unanimous decision of representatives of registered parties represented in the House of Commons within three months; or, if the consultations do not result in a unanimous decision, be named by the Governor in Council following a recommendation made by a panel composed of no fewer than three of the following individuals: the Broadcasting Arbitrator; the Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission; a former Chief Electoral Officer; a former Officer of Parliament; or a retired judge within Canada;

That upon the vacancy of the office of Debates Commissioner, or upon receipt of written notice of the planned resignation of the Debates Commissioner, the Government of Canada must initiate the process for choosing a succeeding Debates Commissioner within three months;

That following the commencement of the process for choosing a succeeding Debates Commissioner, he or she must be chosen by a unanimous decision of representatives of registered parties represented in the House of Commons within three months; or, if the consultations do not result in a unanimous decision, be named by the Governor in Council following a recommendation made by a panel composed of no fewer than three of the following individuals: the Broadcasting Arbitrator; the Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission; a former Chief Electoral Officer; a former Officer of Parliament; or a retired judge within Canada; and

That the Debates Commissioner establish an advisory panel that he or she will consult prior to making key decisions related to the organization, accessibility and broadcasting of the debates that the office organizes. This panel could be composed of the following individuals: broadcasters and media organizations; representatives of political parties; representatives of new media; representatives of groups with disabilities; citizens; civil society groups; representatives of universities; and other experts.

Recommendation 3

That the Debates Commissioner hold office during good behaviour for a term of five years or two elections, whichever is greater, but may be removed for cause by a resolution of the House of Commons of at least a majority of the recognized parties; and

That the Debates Commissioner, on the expiry of a first or any subsequent term of office, is eligible to be reappointed for a further term not exceeding five years or two elections, whichever is greater.

Recommendation 4

That the Debates Commissioner be mandated to report back to Parliament after each federal general election.

Recommendation 5

That the Debates Commissioner must consult with the advisory panel in setting any criteria for participation in debates organized by the Debates Commissioner. Further, the Commissioner should ensure that the criteria for participation in leaders’ debates should be made public well in advance of the campaign period.

Recommendation 6

That the Debates Commissioner be mandated to ensure that the leaders’ debates are broadcast and otherwise made available in a fully accessible and timely manner; and

That the Debates Commissioner be required to consult with and receive feedback from the advisory panel about matters related to the accessibility of the debates that office organizes.

Recommendation 7

That the Debates Commissioner be required to organize a minimum of at least one debate in each official language during general election campaign periods.

Recommendation 8

That the broadcasting feed for any debate organized by the Debates Commissioner be made available free of charge to any outlet or organization that wishes to distribute the debate and that no restrictions be placed on the use of that debate content.

Recommendation 9

That the government ensure that the Debates Commissioner has the required funding to organize, produce, and distribute the debates it organizes.

Recommendation 10

That the Debates Commissioner be mandated to maintain high journalistic standards in the organization of leaders’ debates.

Recommendation 11

That the Debate Commissioner be mandated to organize and conduct debates even if an invited participant declines to attend. In the event that an invited participant declines to attend a debate organized by the Debates Commissioner, the Committee considers that it is within the Debates Commissioner’s purview to take actions the Commissioner deems appropriate to make that participant’s absence well-known during the debate. To that end, the Debates Commissioner could, for example, visibly place an empty podium on stage.

Recommendation 12

That Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs conduct a review of the functioning and operation of the office of the Debates Commissioner within five years of the first Debates Commissioner being chosen.