OTTAWA - A charitable organization that held a federal election debate on foreign policy four years ago is launching a campaign to pressure party leaders to attend a proposed event during this fall's campaign.
The Munk Debates launched a website today inviting Canadians to write to the Liberals, Conservatives, NDP and Greens to urge their leaders to participate in a debate in Toronto on Oct. 1.
The organization held a foreign policy debate during the 2015 campaign when controversy over traditional network-organized debates meant English-language events were limited to smaller settings.
It's one of the first organizer of a 2015 debate to make a bid for a repeat performance during this election period, when there will be two official debates held in the second week of October.
The group's website says the debate will go ahead once all four party leaders confirm their attendance, with a deadline for replies of Sept. 24.
The proposed debate would be moderated by the organization's chairman, Rudyard Griffiths, and the feed would be free for any media outlet interested in carrying it.