The Munk Debates are a biannual series of debates on major policy issues held in Toronto, Canada. They are run by the Aurea Foundation. A charitable foundation set up by Peter Munk, founder of Barrick Gold and his wife. The debate series was founded in 2008 by Munk and Rudyard Griffiths, who moderates most of the debates.
The event is held in Toronto, at steadily larger venues as it has proven popular. Tickets are sold to the general public, and sell out shortly after being made available.
At each debate a poll is taken of audience both before and after the debate. The winner of the debate is determined by how many people are persuaded to move from one side to the other.
Throughout its run the debates have been broadcast on CBC Radio's Ideas. The more recent ones have also appeared on international broadcasters including BBC and CSPAN.
| Date | Topic | Pro | Con | Winner | Swing | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 26, 2008 | The world is a safer place with a republican in the White House | Charles Krauthammer and Niall Ferguson | Samantha Power and Richard Holbrooke | Pro | 34% | Royal Ontario Museum |
| Dec 1, 2008 | If countries like Sudan, Somalia and Burma will not end their man-made humanitarian crises, the international community should | Gareth Evans and Mia Farrow | John Bolton and Rick Hillier | Con | 18% | Royal Ontario Museum |
| June 1, 2009 | Is foreign aid to the developing countries doing more harm than good? | Hernando de Soto and Dambisa Moyo | Stephen Lewis and Paul Collier | Pro | 4% | Royal Ontario Museum |
| Dec 1, 2009 | Climate change is mankind's defining crisis, and demands a commensurate response | George Monbiot and Elizabeth May | Bjorn Lomborg and Nigel Lawson | Con | 16% | The Royal Conservatory of Music |
| June 7, 2010 | I would rather get sick in the United States than Canada | Bill Frist and David Gratzer | Howard Dean and Robert Bell | Con | 7% | The Royal Conservatory of Music |
| Nov 26, 2010 | Religion is a force for good in the world. | Tony Blair | Christopher Hitchens | Con | 4% | Roy Thomson Hall |
| June 17, 2011 | The 21st century will belong to China. | Niall Ferguson and David Daokui Li | Henry Kissinger and Fareed Zakaria | Con | 23% | Roy Thomson Hall |
| Nov 14, 2011 | North America faces a Japan-style era of high unemployment and slow growth. | Paul Krugman and David Rosenberg | Lawrence Summers and Ian Bremmer | Pro | 20% | Roy Thomson Hall |