Frequently Asked Questions:
What are the Cobourg Debates 2026?
The Cobourg Debates 2026 are community-led, non-partisan municipal election debates designed to give voters the opportunity to hear directly from every certified candidate for Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and Council before Election Day.
The debates are organized by a committee of community volunteers whose goal is to provide a professional, respectful, and informative forum that helps residents make informed voting decisions.
Who can participate in the debates?
Participation is open to every candidate who has been officially certified by the Town of Cobourg. The committee uses CobourgVotes.ca as its official source for the list of certified candidates. Every certified candidate will receive the same invitation, the same information, and the same opportunity to participate.
Can residents attend the debates?
Yes. The debates are intended to be open to the public, subject to venue capacity and any applicable safety requirements. Additional information regarding seating, accessibility, and attendance will be shared once the venue and event details have been finalized.
Will the debates be livestreamed or recorded?
That is our goal. We recognize that not everyone can attend in person, and we are working to provide livestreaming and recording of the debates whenever possible. Final details will depend on technical requirements and available resources.
Can a candidate choose not to participate?
Yes. Participation is voluntary. Every certified candidate will receive the same invitation and opportunity to participate. If a candidate chooses not to attend, that decision rests with the candidate.
How will questions from the public be selected?
The purpose of these debates is to ensure every certified candidate has an equal opportunity to respond to the issues that matter most to Cobourg residents. To achieve that, all questions will be collected in advance through a variety of channels, including:
- The debate website
- Online submission forms
- Social media
- Community outreach
Every submission will be reviewed by the organizing committee. Rather than selecting individual questions, the committee will identify common themes and develop balanced questions that reflect the concerns raised by the community.
Questions may be edited for clarity, length, or duplication, but never to change their intent or to favour or disadvantage any candidate.
Will there be an open microphone for audience questions?
No.
To ensure the debates remain fair, organized, and on schedule, audience members will not be able to take a microphone and ask questions directly from the floor. An open microphone can unintentionally give some individuals more speaking time than others, create unequal opportunities, or result in questions that have not been fairly reviewed. Our goal is to ensure every candidate answers the same questions under the same conditions.
Can I still ask a question on the day of the debate?
Yes. Residents attending the debate will have an opportunity to submit written questions at the venue before the debate begins.
Those questions will be reviewed alongside any remaining themes and, where appropriate, may be incorporated into the debate if time permits and they fit within the established format. As with all submitted questions, not every question can be asked, but every submission will be considered.
Who will read the questions?
Questions will be read by designated question readers to ensure consistency and fairness throughout the debate. However, if you submit a question before the debate, the organizing committee may invite you to attend and read your own question during the debate. If your question is selected for this opportunity, a committee member will contact you in advance with further details.
This approach allows community members to participate directly while ensuring the debate remains structured, impartial, and fair for all candidates.
How will the moderator, debate format, and rules remain impartial?
The committee is committed to using a structured debate format that provides every candidate with an equal opportunity to participate. All candidates will receive the debate format, rules, and procedures well in advance of the event.
The committee is seeking an experienced moderator from outside the Cobourg community whenever possible to reinforce neutrality and public confidence. Additional volunteers, including timekeepers, microphone operators, question readers, candidate escorts, and registration volunteers, will ensure the debates are conducted fairly, professionally, and consistently.
What does "non-partisan" mean?
Municipal elections in Ontario are non-partisan, and these debates are organized according to that principle. For these debates, non-partisan means the committee does not support or oppose any candidate or political party.
This includes:
- Inviting every certified candidate.
- Providing equal speaking time.
- Applying the same rules to every participant.
- Selecting questions based on community interest, not political preference.
- Expecting committee members and volunteers to leave their personal political views outside the debate process.
Our role is to facilitate the discussion, not influence the outcome.
What is the Debate Organizing Committee?
The Debate Organizing Committee is an independent group of Cobourg volunteers responsible for planning, organizing, and delivering the debates. Responsibilities include:
- Booking the venue.
- Inviting candidates.
- Developing the debate format.
- Collecting community questions.
- Recruiting volunteers.
- Coordinating media and livestreaming.
- Managing event logistics.
- Delivering the debates.
The committee’s objective is to ensure the debates are fair, professional, transparent, and accessible to the community.
How does the committee make decisions?
The committee consists of volunteers representing a variety of backgrounds and perspectives. Whenever possible, decisions are made by consensus. When consensus cannot be reached, decisions are made by majority vote.
Committee members are expected to:
- Remain politically neutral while serving.
- Disclose any actual or perceived conflicts of interest.
- Participate respectfully.
- Complete assigned responsibilities.
- Work collaboratively toward the shared goal of delivering successful debates.
How was the committee formed?
The Debate Organizing Committee was established after Maria Papaioannoy Duic issued a public call to action inviting Cobourg residents to help organize fair, community-led municipal election debates.
From those who expressed interest, a volunteer committee was formed to represent a range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. The committee continues to welcome community involvement and may invite additional volunteers as planning progresses, based on the needs of the project and the skills required. Committee members are united by a shared commitment to delivering professional, fair, transparent, and non-partisan debates for the benefit of the entire community.
How are conflicts of interest managed?
Committee members are asked to disclose any current involvement with a municipal election campaign, including volunteering, employment, or other direct participation. Previous political involvement is not considered a conflict.
The committee relies on openness, integrity, and transparency to maintain public confidence in the process.
How will the committee communicate with the public?
The Debate Organizing Committee is an independent volunteer committee. It is not affiliated with the Town of Cobourg or any political campaign.
The committee will regularly publish information related to the debates, including:
- Debate dates and locations
- Candidate participation
- Debate rules and format
- Volunteer opportunities
- Ways to submit questions
- Event logistics and updates
The committee does not intend to publish its internal planning discussions or hold public committee meetings. Our focus is on delivering professional, impartial debates while keeping the community informed about the event itself.
How can I volunteer?
Community volunteers are essential to making these debates a success. We are seeking volunteers for a variety of roles, including registration, ushers, timekeeping, microphone support, candidate escorts, question readers, and general event assistance.
If you are interested in volunteering, please email team@cobourgdebates2026.ca with your name, contact information, and any relevant experience.
How will you decide the winner?
There is no “winner” of the debates.
The purpose of the Cobourg Debates is not for the comittee to judge candidates or determine who performed the best. The debates are designed to provide every certified candidate with an equal opportunity to share their ideas, explain their priorities, and answer questions that matter to the Cobourg community.
Who “wins” a debate is ultimately up to each individual voter to decide for themselves. The only official winners of the 2026 Municipal Election will be determined by the votes cast by the residents of Cobourg. Official election results will be announced by the Town of Cobourg through CobourgVotes.ca after voting has concluded and the results have been certified.
