Doug Ford can bring crib notes to a TV debate. His rivals say they don’t need them
Doug Ford is being allowed to bring his cheat sheet.
As first disclosed by the Star, the Progressive Conservative leader's demand that he be permitted his binder at Monday's televised debate has been met by the broadcast consortium.
While NDP Leader Andrea Horwath, Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca, and Green Leader Mike Schreiner agreed no crib notes were required, Ford insisted he bring his briefing book.
It is the hope of the consortium that leaders will not bring prepared notes/binders to the podium during Monday's televised leaders debate," according to an internal email sent to the campaigns by the broadcasters.
However, we are aware that some parties feel strongly that this should be allowed. While our request remains in place we wanted to share that we will not actively bar leaders from bringing a discreet binder or notes with them to the podium," the missive continued.
We are still asking leaders to not bring notes/binders, but if someone does they will not be disqualified from the debate. The moderators may point it out however," it noted.
Again, binders were present at the Ontario leaders debate in 2018, and upon reviewing the entire event we felt they had no impact on the quality of the debate, negative or positive."
Ford, who uses a teleprompter at his tightly scripted campaign events, is accustomed to consulting his briefing binders when answering opposition questions in the legislature.
At his dais during the North Bay debate Tuesday, he repeatedly consulted a piece of paper with handwritten notes.
In a meeting Thursday with the Star's editorial board, Schreiner said, I don't plan on bringing my cheat sheet" to the debate.
I feel like I perform better when I speak from the heart and I think authenticity really matters in politics," the Green leader said.
The live 90-minute debate airs at 6:30 p.m. on Monday on CBC, CHCH, Citytv, CPAC, CTV, Global, and TVO. It will also be streamed online and simulcast on many radio stations.
Star columnist Althia Raj and Steve Paikin, host of TVO's The Agenda, will moderate the debate, which will held at the TVO Broadcast Centre at Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue.
Robert Benzie is the Star's Queen's Park bureau chief and a reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter: @robertbenzie