Conservative leadership candidates Jean Charest and Pierre Poilievre are trading jabs over the party's third leadership debate, which Poilievre has said he will not attend.."Jean Charest has had a hard time getting even a couple of dozen people to his campaign events. That is why he wants another debate, to use Pierre's popularity with the members to bring out an audience that he can't get on his own," Poilievre's campaign said in a press release on Thursday afternoon.."No one is interested in a scandal-plagued, tax and spend, Carbon Tax-loving, defeated liberal premier," the campaign said..Immediately after the Conservative Leadership Election Organizing Committee (LEOC) announced there would be a third leadership debate, the Poilievre campaign declined to participate..The campaign explained that the party's proposed third debate is "smack dab in the middle of the 'get out the vote' period."."The sole objective of the campaign now is to get new members and existing members to fill out their ballots and then submit them before the September deadline. Pierre will be on the road again without interruption to help make that happen," the campaign said..The Poilievre campaign attacked the moderator of the second debate in Edmonton, claiming that the "Laurentian elite Liberal media personality" made it into an "embarrassment." .Poilievre's campaign said said the moderator of that debate asked "pointless" questions, played a sad trombone sound when a candidate or audience member didn't comply with their "stupid" rules, and gave candidates ping pong paddles to hold up when they wanted to speak. .Poilievre's campaign then turned its attention towards Charest. It said that while Poilievre's campaign events were attended by "thousands and thousands" of people, with over 7,000 attending one event in Alberta, Charest "has had a hard time getting even a couple of dozen people to his campaign events.".According to Poilievre, Charest wants another debate to be held so he can use Poilievre's popularity to "bring out an audience that he can't get on his own.".Charest's campaign released a statement hours later, claiming that the majority of leadership candidates, "with the exception of Pierre Poilievre" had agreed to participate in the third debate..Charest's campaign said when someone has the "privilege" of running as the leader of a political party and potential prime minister of Canada, they should "never shy away" from answering tough questions.."We would expect anyone who is vying to lead the Conservative Party of Canada to act in a respectful and responsible manner. To refrain from a debate is disrespectful to party leadership and it 675,000 members," Charest said..Charest campaign said Poilievre's attacks on other candidates and members of the press have become "par for the course" and say more about him than his targets. "They are a distraction from the fact that Mr. Poilievre's campaign team would prefer to have him post curated content to social media than answer questions in real time," they said..According to Charest, Poilievre's refusal to attend a third debate is an act of "disrespect and humiliation to the party's leadership." He accused Poilievre of attempting to buy his way out of a debate than 65% of Conservative Party members support..Any candidate who refused to attend a party-sanctioned debate will be forced to pay a $50,000 fine by LEOC.."Jean has always committed to being accountable to the members. Our campaign fully supports LEOC's decision to proceed with this debate."
