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The first 30 minutes of the French-language debate Wednesday and the English-language debate Thursday will now include "focused discussion on the economy", a broadcast consortium spokesman said.

The leaders may also be asked additional questions related to the economy later in each debate, the spokesman said.

The change followed appeals Tuesday by Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper, New Democratic Party leader Jack Layton and Green Party leader Elizabeth May.

Harper had requested that at least an hour of each two-hour debate focus on the economy.

The original amount of time allotted to the economy was 12 minutes, The Toronto Star reported.

The U.S. financial crisis has "deepened since the debate format was finalized" and was now "the most important issue facing Canada today", Harper said in a statement.

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