Two televised debates set for mid-April in Montreal for federal party leaders

Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet, left to right, Green Party Leader Annamie Paul, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole take part in the federal election English-language leaders debate in Gatineau, Que., on September 9, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

OTTAWA — Federal party leaders will have the opportunity to face each other in two televised debates planned for next month, though a third debate proposed by a Quebec broadcaster has been scrapped.

The Leaders' Debates Commission, an independent body, is planning a French-language debate on April 16 and an English one the following night.

Both debates are to be held in Montreal at Radio-Canada's studios.

The commission plans to announce next week which party leaders will be invited to take part.

The commission outlined criteria for participation in the debates earlier this year.

Those rules state that each participating leader must meet two of three conditions: their party has elected a member of Parliament, has at least four per cent support in aggregate polling four weeks out from election day, or has endorsed candidates in at least 90 per cent of federal ridings.

Quebec broadcaster TVA has cancelled its offer to stage its head-to head debate, known as Face-à-Face, after saying it would require the four main parties to contribute $75,000 each to cover production costs.

Mohammad Hussain, a spokesperson for the Liberal campaign, confirmed Monday that Liberal Leader Mark Carney will not take part in the proposed second French-language leaders debate.

Hussain did not provide a reason for Carney's decision but said the Liberal leader is "delighted" to be able to take part in the two debates organized by the Leaders' Debates Commission.

TVA said in a French-language statement that it was "forced to cancel … due to the Liberal Party of Canada's refusal to participate" and that the Conservatives, NDP and Bloc Québécois had all said they were ready to pay the fee to take part in the TVA debate.

Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet criticized Carney's decision on social media, saying in a post Monday that the Liberal leader claims to have the strength and courage to confront U.S. President Donald Trump but won't even speak to Quebecers.

While Carney's French skills have come under scrutiny, particularly after the French language Liberal leadership debate, recent polls suggest that the Liberals have reversed a lead previously held by the Bloc in Quebec.

Speaking with reporters from his campaign bus Monday, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said opting out of the debate is "insulting to Quebecers."

"There are issues that are very unique to Quebec, language issues, issues that are hitting differently in Quebec," Singh said, noting that Carney's decision ultimately cancelled the debate. "It takes away an opportunity to hear from people on issues that matter to the people of Quebec."

— With files from Émilie Bergeron in Gander, Nfld.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 24, 2025

The Canadian Press