Canada's TV networks seek to leash the nattering nabobs of interruptionism during the leaders' debates for any future election campaign.

An excerpt from the May 5 Globe and Mail story:

In a letter sent to the country's major political parties, the country's five networks proposed adding another English-language debate originating from Western Canada as well as an additional French-language debate.

“Four candidates, in two hours, are barely able to scratch the surface. Entire regions of Canada are effectively ignored in this format,” the broadcasters said in Thursday's letter.

During last spring's campaign, the networks broadcast two nationally televised debates on consecutive nights four weeks into the campaign. Each ran two hours and originated from Ottawa.

“There is simply not enough air time available to even mention, let alone seriously debate, all of the key election issues in this enormous country of ours,” the networks said of the previous format.

As well, the proposed changing the format of the debates, saying the original way the political talks ran. Both viewers and critics, they said, felt last year's round of debates had too many interruptions, making them confusing and difficult to follow.

“These debates need genuine engagement and rebuttal, but in a way that enables voters to hear and understand the different party leaders,” they said.