About CBC Toronto's Townhall debate

In the absence of a formal debate process in our civic elections, it is left to debate hosts to decide everything from debate format to the list of participants.

• CBC Toronto hosts a townhall mayoral debate on October 16

With more than 60 candidates running for mayor of Toronto, not everyone could be included in the CBC debate.

There is also no such thing as an objectively fair way to decide who to invite. But in assessing the political landscape right now, CBC determined the most meaningful role it could play for Toronto voters is to include those candidates who have had a significant presence in the daily political conversation of this campaign.

For the debate on October 16, the CBC invited the candidates who have shown enough strength in public opinion polls to suggest they have a legitimate chance to win onOctober 27th.