The Latest: Four federal leaders face off in French language leaders’ debate

OTTAWA — The French language leaders’ debate takes place in Montreal starting at 6 p.m. EDT.

It is the first of two national debates that will include Liberal Leader Mark Carney, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet. The English debate is on Thursday night.

The start of the French debate was moved up by two hours to accommodate a crucial Montreal Canadiens game that could decide whether the team makes the NHL playoffs.

Here’s the latest (All times eastern):

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10 a.m.

Green Party co-leader Jonathan Pedneault says in a statement to media that he’s the youngest leader on the federal scene and has spent his life “standing up for those who the world is trying to silence.”

Pedneault says the Leaders’ Debate Commission is trying to silence the Greens, calling the commission’s decision unjust and undemocratic.

He accuses commentators for the Bloc Québécois and Conservatives of campaigning to remove the Greens because they are afraid, and says the commission admits that its decision infringes on the right of Canadians to be informed in this election.

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8 a.m.

The Leaders’ Debate Commission announces it is rescinding its invitation to the Green Party to take part in the leaders’ debates, just hours before the French debate was set to begin.

The ruling says that the Green Party no longer meets two of the three necessary criteria for participation.

Those include having at least one seat in the House of Commons at dissolution, having at least four per cent in national support in opinion polls 28 days before election day, and nominating candidates in at least 90 per cent of ridings.

The Green Party is not fielding candidates in 90 per cent of ridings, despite earlier telling the commission they would have a full slate of candidates.

But instead of 343 candidates, Elections Canada lists 232 people running for the Green Party in this election.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 16, 2025

The Canadian Press