Leading names in business and media are urging everyone to take part in the free meeting at Manchester's Midland Hotel on January 22.
Deputy prime minister John Prescott will be on hand and faces a grilling on just what a mini-parliament would mean to the north west's seven million people if they vote "yes" in a referendum this year. Leaders of the for and against campaigns will also be present.
Everyone is invited to the Have Your Say debate by claiming free tickets from the editor's office at the M.E.N., 164 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3RN. Mark your envelope "Regional assembly debate".
Anyone who can't make it but still wants to take part can submit questions, either by post or online at www.manchesteronline.co.uk/news. The best questions will be put to the panel.
The debate is being supported by the Manchester Chamber of Commerce and Industry and media giant Granada.
MCCI has written to its members - more than 4,000 of the region's most successful businesses - encouraging them to get involved.
Policy executive Tom Dempster said the result of the postal referendum, due to take place in autumn, would have a massive impact on the north west.
But he said too many businesses simply didn't know what a mini parliament would be able to do or how it would work. "It is vital we get the debate going and encourage ministers to put more information into the public domain," he said.
A regional assembly, costing £30m to set up and the same each year to run, would cover Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire, Merseyside and Cumbria. It would have 30-35 members and be responsible for issues such as planning, housing, jobs, transport, public health and the environment. It would not raise taxes or make laws.
Supporters say a mini-parliament would give the north west a strong voice at Westminster and restore democratic control over £780m in regional funds.
Opponents say it will be expensive, toothless and irrelevant and would just mean more politicians and red tape.
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Just another layer of useless red tape costing the council tax payer more money.
See the Scotish assembly, from a B#30milliom white elephant to B#300 million millstone for generations to come.
The UK is a perfect size for central administration, ie Westminster, managing country wide transport, power, jobs, education and housing programs supported, as at present, with strong local councils who understand real local needs. Regional delegates will probably be career politicians who will see it as a gateway to Westminster and therefore follow central party line.
Brussels, Westminster, Regional and Local assenblies for a country the size of the UK will be a costly inefficient joke.