Rick Mercer debate challenge

Let the games begin: Rick Mercer, who is arguably more popular than any of the political party leaders, has offered to serve as producer of a debate between Stephen Harper and Michael Ignatieff.

He proposes that it take place at Massey Hall in Toronto and that $50,000 will go to charities on both sides. Hard to see a downside in that. 

Mercer, let's not forget, amassed enough signatures to change Stockwell Day's name to Doris Day in the 2000 election campaign. So let's see where this one goes.  If you leave comments here, I'll forward them to Rick and both parties. 

Comments

[Kathryn]

so far the University of Guelph took him up on his challenge to "vote" in his rant from Tuesday night!!! They produced this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEf34V2rmaM

[Margaret Gough]

You should have that 12 year old who joked with Michael Ignatieff help him and be his assistant during the debate. I know I am biased. That 12 year old was my son. He loves watching Rick Mercer and the Mercer Report.

[Tony Cosentino]

A good step forward towards true Canadian democracy, let's leave the fear of politics south of the border.

[Bruce Martel]

This could potentially be THE quintessential debate of the election..and it would be great to use the 50K as a starting or opening bid with more people contributing to it and upping the ante'. I don't have that much $$...but I'd throw in a hundred bucks to up the ante'..throw down the gauntlet for democracy! How COULD they refuse!?

[A Carrel]

Now that is a debate I would look forward to watching. Well done Rick!

[kommept]

Everyone needs to hold Harper to his original challenge, why make it in the first place if you don't have the guts to back it up? Besides, Ignatieff deserves a chance to defend himself after the onslaught of below the belt attack ads aimed at him over the past year. And me... how will I be able to look my children in the eye decades from now and tell them I had a chance to watch the Harper vs. Ignatieff Battle Royal but I didn't do everything in my power to make it happen? Please Mr. Harper, do it for the children...

[Amy MacPherson]

In Ontario, there's been a 51% increase in families made homeless and a 60% increase in children taken into foster care, as a direct result of food and shelter issues (according to the RNAO - Registered Nurses Association of Ontario). Can the candidates please tell me why homegrown poverty has been abandoned from everyone's platform? And why Quebec received grants for snowmobile clubs when affordable housing was virtually dissolved?

[Dan Jenkin]

Iggy should request they donate the 50 Grand to KAIROS!

[Adam van Sertima]

Word!
But Rick Mercer should also be the moderator.

[Amy MacPherson]

What are the top five things you would do if you won a majority?

[Andrew]

Doooooo it! And dont be afraid to call out their bluffs and B.S. during the debate too. I am sick and tired of watching a debate where both sides are too afraid to throw a punch but not chicken enough to hide so its just a debate thats about as fake and awkward as a grade 7 dance.

Go get 'em Rick!

[Fareed]

I'm glad Rick Mercer has decided to take on producing the one on one debate. Although a political satirist he brings credibility to the prospect of a debate between Harper and Ignatief since Canadians trust him more then they trust any politician. And you can be sure that the country would tune in in droves if the debate did happen.

Thanks for stepping up Rick.

[Bob Dobbs]

To hell with the networks Stream it online wont interfere with the all important revenue then will it?
Ned Franks asks a ? then Rick then twitter via panel of reporters @streams (the entire live audience=reporters)
Bonus points if not a single question is a talking point
5 min answer 3 min rebutel
sitting at a table camera stays on shot of both entire debate

[Alberta Dude]

I would love to see a one-on-one debate. Harper is a chicken.

[Sara-Anne Peterson]

Your neice won't get a job with this government Rick.

[Linda G]

Great idea but I don't think Harper would be brave enough to participate.....he'd risk being forced to let us all see the true Harper....we've had lots of hints over the years but imagine if he lost it during the debate and we actually got to see how extreme and evil his views are. The years of him biting his tongue, heeding his handlers whispers in his ear may come to the breaking point. I'd love to see it!! Go Rick Go!

[Robert Gordon]

The political parties might hate minority government, but it seems an acceptable state for governing according to voters. Without any of Canada’s three main political parties able to garner enough votes to form a majority government, a coalition of parties might be the answer.

Stephen Harper and the new Conservative Government in fact is a coalition. The current party results from a coalition of the former Progressive Conservative Party of Canada with the Reform Party led by Stephen Harper. The Coalition formed after an agreement between Harper and PC leader Peter McKay whereby some PC members of the coalition became Harper government cabinet ministers. Political coalitions are a fact in Canada since even the Progressive Conservative Party was a coalition of the Progressive and Conservative parties.

A coalition of the Liberal Party of Canada and the New Democratic Party might be a disappointment to diehard party supporters. Canadian voters on the other hand might want to consider such a change if the current election ends in another minority government stalemate. The country appears weary of the partisan political wrangling between parties keeping the country from looking forward rather than marking time in past traditions awaiting the next collapse of government.

The Bloc of course is always a factor in Canadian elections and tends to create the perfect atmosphere for continued minority governments. If another minority election results in the Harper dreaded coalition of the Liberals and NDP the merger would change the face of Canadian politics forever bringing about a new Canadian political party. A taste for new parties is the scenario most frightening to the all old established Canadian political parties since it is already a reality with the birth of the Alberta Wildrose Party.

The new party would undoubtedly force the Bloc to change tactics after probably losing leader Gilles Duceppe to the provincial political scene. The more or less conservative leaning Bloc could lose some support in Quebec if the coalition creates a new left of center party with a dedicated voter base.

[Adam]

Thanks Rick! While you're at it, why not host a Layton-Harper debate, and a Layton-Ignatieff one too? You'd be a democratic ubermench.

[Steve Baldwin]

Great Idea Rick!! Neutral turf, good cause and a venue where "the truth will out". Unfortunately I think the chicken has already crossed the road.

[Laurie M.]

Sorry Rick, you've lost me on this one. Have you decided, along with most of the mainstream media, that Layton and NDP voters are not part of this election, or of this country? I'm really sick of this false dichotomy between Conservatives and Liberals, as if those of us who disagree with both of them don't exist.Canadians shouldn't be surprised when we get the same things over and over again from these two parties; as far as the media, and now Mercer, are concerned, that's all there is folks.

[Tired of it]

God ... when will this @$(# election end. This is just getting freaking retarded.

[Maureen Haslehurst]

Harper is always saying what Canadians want. Let's let him know what we really want. A debate with him and Ignatieff.

[Anonymouse]

Mercer is suuuuuuuuuch a Liberal. If I was Harper I would say no. The Conservative equivalent would be a debate moderated by a sedated Don Cherry. Lol.

[Ron Dennis]

Oooooh, a Rick Mercer debate would be just lovely. Let me start it off with some doggerel:
Jack and Gilles,
Went up Coalition Hill.
They each had a hold of Harper.
Harper fell down,
Nearly broke the Crown.
And said: “What hill?”

[GGower]

It would be inappropriate for a comedian to host a debate of this nature.

[Jeff Culbert]

I don't approve of the Conservative-Liberal coalition that has governed this country since confederation, but I'd support this. I don't think that Harper's record or his spin on it would stand up to scrutiny, and anything that brings the truth to light would be a good thing.

[Andre Chiasson]

You would think that any leader with a vision for the country would be willing to stack his vision against anyone, especially someone who has a different vision. If he can't take this kind of heat, would we want him taking on an opposition, the premiers, foreign leaders...? Someone willing to debate his opponent openly shows some courage.

[Steve]

Well we know Ignatieff will accept. Is Harper man enough or chicken? And if he is chicken, why on earth should we give him another shot at PM?!

[David B]

Good plan Rick, the same thought crossed my mind albeit you in Halifax at Kings with journalist students asking the questions with proceeds to the IWK. In any rate most (well some) remember Steve Harper reading a borrowed speech from the the Australian PM in our H of C ... but heck who knows, just maybe PM Harper is now his own man wrt speech writing and speaking with crib sheets or screened questions prior to an event. Sadly it will never happen even it stakes were raised to millions for children's hospitals in Canada. Hello he can only handle 4/5 questions per day from the media .. and then they must be on his topic. And to think he is about to win a major majority hands down.

[Terri Pitzel]

Great idea! I think this debate would be watched by more viewers/voters than the French debate!! If I could suggest a question, it would be boxers or briefs? With a followup question of tea or coffee? ;)

[Barry Cameron]

Who doesn’t love Rick Mercer? Always entertainingly political or poltically entertaining. But his offer to host a debate between the two big boys, Hair-in-the-Fridge and The Count, amusing as no doubt such an encounter would be, is a misplaced gesture that is, inadvertent or not, democratically alienating in its potential outcome. It privileges two of the five main parties and, in effect, excludes the range of voices in the other three parties. In short, it’s another example of the politics of exclusion. It’s disturbing enough that the gaggle of suits who make up the TV Consortium want to limit the range of voices to which the public might be exposed; it’s downright disappointing that our boy Rick has so far failed to see the drawbacks of his suggestion.

It’s in the public interest to hear from everyone, a position the Consortium regime should have obviously taken. Why limit democratic expresion, messy as it is, during a federal election?

http://wp.me/p1sZC7-1A, @AppalledBC

[Mary Choma]

Bring it on. Canadian Political Theatre at its very best.

Mr. Harper is the one who said he thought there should be a debate with the two "frontrunners" in this race, so let's hope he replies in the affirmative before too long.

CBC wants to know what you think, email: pov@cbc.ca

[JoelK]

I'd definitely buy a ticket for that. Raising $50,000 from the debate for charity should be no problem.

[Lloyd Newton]

Liberals Big Red Tent is red from the blood of Veterans they refused to help !!! For 4 months straight in the house of commons they kept bring up treatment of Afgan detainee's !!! While Injured Canadian Soldiers Pleaded with his party to help because of the unfair treatment of D.V.A. turnning down Injured Canadian Soldiers/Veterans !!! What word comes to mind ??? When a Political Party fights for fair treatment of Afgan Prisonner !!! But never try to help there own Injured Canadian Soldiers/Veterans when they are pleading with them for help !!! Would you think this is on the borderline of being Traitor's ??? I know this because I was one whom was pleading with them for help but they would not even call me !!! Yes they had my number and choose to ignore me !!! Conservatives and Block also ignored me !!! There is only one party that called me !!! N.D.P.'s were the only party to call and try to help Inkured Canadian soldiers Thank-You Peter Stoffer of the N.D. P. Party !!! Only the N.D. P. pollitical party cared enough about Injured Canadian Soldiers/Veterans to call !!!

[MCBellecourt]

Dear Mr. Mercer,

If you do succeed in putting this together, ask S. Harper exactly what is at stake with the C.E.T.A. accord, regarding our health care and water. See how honest he's willing to be about it.

Thanks--and thanks for doing this--MCB

[Sharon Davis]

Absolutely LOVE the idea....a real debate for a change would be the highlight of this campaign. Harper has not got the flexibility to attend. He would be completely off his game. I hope this is a "go". Good for you Rick Mercer. Canadians will see the strength of Michael Ignatieff.