First Debate Tonight: Liberal Leadership Candidates Go Head to Head
The candidates in the race to be the next leader of the Liberal Party of Canada will face off tonight in the first of two live debates.
With just two weeks remaining until the winner is announced and two days until voting starts, these two events are the only opportunity for Liberal supporters to see the candidates together.
Mark Carney, Chrystia Freeland, Karina Gould, and Frank Baylis are the remaining candidates in the contest.
Ruby Dhalla was disqualified by the party on Friday for rule violations, with an appeal filed by her for reinstatement.
Pierre Jobin, a former TVA-Québec anchor, will moderate the French language debate tonight.
The winner of the race will succeed Justin Trudeau as Liberal leader and prime minister, with an election expected shortly after.
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Carney shared a video on social media yesterday focusing on his pledge to balance the government’s operational budget within three years.
He also plans to increase spending on investments in areas like housing, clean energy, and new trade routes to lessen Canada’s dependence on the United States.
Freeland, in her video, visited her childhood farm in Peace River, Alta., emphasizing her connection to and understanding of the people who contribute significantly to Canada’s economy.
Gould outlined policies to bring the party back to its roots for the next generation, including more frequent policy conventions.
Baylis gave a tour of his medical technology company in a video, highlighting his experience in growing businesses.
Carney leads in polls and fundraising, injecting renewed enthusiasm into the party as they narrow the gap to the Conservatives.
Conservative attack ads have targeted Carney recently, with Conservative house leader Andrew Scheer releasing a statement focused solely on Carney ahead of the debate.
On Tuesday, the party’s English-language debate will take place in Montreal with Hannah Thibedeau, a former CBC host, as the moderator.
Advance voting for party members opens on Wednesday immediately after the debates, with the winner to be announced on March 9.
