Federal election reality check (Canadian Press via Yahoo! News)

OTTAWA (CP) - National unity and the federal relationship with Quebec have become big issues for both Liberal Leader Paul Martin and Conservative Leader Stephen Harper in the election campaign. Here's a closer look:

Harper offering 1-on-1 debate with Duceppe (CBC Montreal)

Conservative Leader Stephen Harper is willing to debate one-on-one in French with Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe on a Quebec television network, CBC News confirmed Wednesday. Liberal Leader Paul Martin has already rejected a similar suggestion from Duceppe.

Conservatives' Harper emerging as 'pragmatic leader': Cohen (Hill Times)

Campaign 2006 is Conservative Party Leader Stephen Harper's to lose, say election experts.

Marriage issue reignites in first round of debate (Meridian Booster)

Lloydminster Meridian Booster — The leaders from the four federal parties were put to the test by everyday Joes in both English and French debates held this past week, with the second round drawing a few more sparks than the first.

Duceppe urges changes to election debate format (CBC News)

Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe wants Liberal Leader Paul Martin to join him in pushing for new rules in next month's round of election debates. At a rally in Montreal over the weekend, Duceppe said last week's debates in Vancouver on Thursday and Friday were stifled...

Debate benefits Martin (The Chronicle Herald)

OTTAWA — Paul Martin’s animated debate-night defence of federalism and the Charter of Rights appeared to win favour with voters, suggests a new poll that proclaims the Liberal leader the winner of last week’s English-language encounter.

Party leaders converge on B.C. ahead of debates (CTV.ca)

The leaders of the four main parties are converging on British Columbia ahead of their televised debates.

Cold calling (Guardian Unlimited)

Canadian politicians are facing snow, ice and frigid temperatures as they travel the country in the first winter national election campaign in 25 years.

Martin boosting separatist threat: critics (Reuters via Yahoo! News)

Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin's decision to make separatists in French-speaking Quebec a focal point of his election campaign is dangerous and could help break up the country, according to unhappy critics.

Calling all party leaders: What is the Kyoto Plan? (The Community Press)

Dear Editor: A United Nations conference on climate change is under way in Montreal.