MONTREAL: Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre’s press conference was cancelled Wednesday morning ahead of the two consecutive federal leaders’ debates in Montreal.
No reason was given. The Tory leader has held press conferences most mornings and rallies multiple evenings a week since the election was called on March 23.
Liberal leader Mark Carney did not schedule a press conference for Wednesday, though he will be visiting a small business in a trip that is closed to media, except for pool photographers.
The French-language debate is scheduled for Wednesday evening at 6 pm ET — initially set for 8 pm, but was bumped up to accommodate the Montreal Canadiens game — and the English-language debate will be held Thursday at 7 pm ET.
The Leaders’ Debates Commission, a taxpayer-funded organization appointed by former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, has confirmed the topics of the debate.
Notably, the topics of immigration and foreign affairs were omitted from the English-language debate, but they are on the list for the French-language debate.
French debate themes:
the cost of living
energy and climate
the trade war
identity and sovereignty
immigration and foreign affairs
English debate themes:
affordability and the cost of living
energy and climate
leading in a crisis
public safety and security
tariffs and threats to Canada