Conservative leadership candidate Jean Charest published an attack ad insulting rival Pierre Poilievre for saying he will not show up to the next debate. .“Pierre, we know debates aren’t your strong suit,” said the voice-over in the Thursday ad. .“Formats can be confusing.” .The voice-over said Poilievre made comments at debates that landed him in trouble. The video flashed to a clip of him from the official English Conservative leadership debate saying he will fire the Bank of Canada governor. .Poilievre vowed in May to fire the Bank of Canada governor if he becomes prime minister. .He accused the Bank of Canada governor of being an ATM for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s deficit spending and for fuelling inflation. .“I would replace him with a new governor who would reinstate our low-inflation mandate, protect the purchasing power of our dollar, and honour the working people who earned those dollars,” he said. .The voice-over said debates made Poilievre come across as abrasive. It flashed to a segment from the Canada Strong and Free Network debate, where he asked about how much money Charest took from Huawei. .READ MORE: Poilievre and Charest come out swinging at first Conservative leadership debate.“How much?” he said. .“How much?” .Charest’s campaign said it understands why Poilievre dodges debates, as “making videos are way more fun.” It said the camera does not ask follow-up questions. .The voice over accused Poilievre of having no policies. It said all he supports are freedom and cryptocurrency. .The video featured a story the Western Standard did about Poilievre saying he will miss the third official debate. .READ MORE: UPDATED: 'Skippy' skips another debate.Poilievre’s team said he does not want to be in the next debate because he has been in three. ."It's not the campaign's fault the Party's Edmonton debate was widely recognized as an embarrassment," said his team. .The ad called for Poilievre to ask his team to let him debate. .“It’s time to free Pierre,” it said. .“After all, what could go wrong?”.Poilievre could not be reached for comment in time for publication.
Conservative leadership candidate Jean Charest published an attack ad insulting rival Pierre Poilievre for saying he will not show up to the next debate. .“Pierre, we know debates aren’t your strong suit,” said the voice-over in the Thursday ad. .“Formats can be confusing.” .The voice-over said Poilievre made comments at debates that landed him in trouble. The video flashed to a clip of him from the official English Conservative leadership debate saying he will fire the Bank of Canada governor. .Poilievre vowed in May to fire the Bank of Canada governor if he becomes prime minister. .He accused the Bank of Canada governor of being an ATM for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s deficit spending and for fuelling inflation. .“I would replace him with a new governor who would reinstate our low-inflation mandate, protect the purchasing power of our dollar, and honour the working people who earned those dollars,” he said. .The voice-over said debates made Poilievre come across as abrasive. It flashed to a segment from the Canada Strong and Free Network debate, where he asked about how much money Charest took from Huawei. .READ MORE: Poilievre and Charest come out swinging at first Conservative leadership debate.“How much?” he said. .“How much?” .Charest’s campaign said it understands why Poilievre dodges debates, as “making videos are way more fun.” It said the camera does not ask follow-up questions. .The voice over accused Poilievre of having no policies. It said all he supports are freedom and cryptocurrency. .The video featured a story the Western Standard did about Poilievre saying he will miss the third official debate. .READ MORE: UPDATED: 'Skippy' skips another debate.Poilievre’s team said he does not want to be in the next debate because he has been in three. ."It's not the campaign's fault the Party's Edmonton debate was widely recognized as an embarrassment," said his team. .The ad called for Poilievre to ask his team to let him debate. .“It’s time to free Pierre,” it said. .“After all, what could go wrong?”.Poilievre could not be reached for comment in time for publication.