People's Party fields more candidates than Green Party, still excluded from debates

Green Party of Canada was disqualified from the 2025 federal leaders’ debates after reducing its candidate slate below the required threshold, while the People’s Party of Canada (PPC) was also excluded, continuing its absence from federal debates.

The Leaders’ Debates Commission requires parties to run candidates in at least 90% of Canada’s 343 federal ridings, among other criteria. The Greens initially submitted a list of 343 endorsed candidates, meeting the threshold. However, they later reduced their slate to 232 candidates — about 68% of ridings — citing issues with Elections Canada, like difficulties collecting signatures.

The Commission rescinded the Greens’ invitation on April 16, hours before the French-language debate, with the English debate following on April 17. Green Party co-leader Jonathan Pedneault called the decision “unjust” and “undemocratic,” arguing the party had initially qualified and deserved a platform.

Co-leader Elizabeth May clarified the reduction was due to administrative hurdles, not strategic reasons. May consulted a lawyer but said time constraints prevented a legal challenge. The Greens expressed frustration, feeling their voice was silenced.

The PPC, led by Maxime Bernier, was not invited to the debates. The party failed to meet the Commission’s requirement of satisfying two of three conditions — one elected MP, 4% national support in polls, or candidates in 90% of ridings.

With no MPs and 3.27% support in the 2021 election, the PPC fell short.

The PPC has never participated in federal leaders’ debates, including in 2019 and 2021. Canada’s 343 federal ridings reflect the 2023 redistribution based on the 2021 census, up from 338.