Federal Liberals announce dates for leadership debates

A stagehand works on the stage in between presenters at the 2023 Liberal National Convention in Ottawa, on Thursday, May 4, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

The Liberal Party of Canada has announced the dates for debates ahead of the vote to decide its next leader and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s successor.

One French and one English debate will be held in Montreal on Feb. 24 and 25, respectively.

The Liberal Party of Canada has announced the dates for debates ahead of the vote to decide its next leader and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s successor.

One French and one English debate will be held in Montreal on Feb. 24 and 25, respectively. The debates are scheduled less than two weeks before the party chooses its next leader. That decision is slated for March 9.

Leadership hopeful Chrystia Freeland previously called for four debates, The Canadian Press reported. In addition to Freeland, former federal finance minister, four other candidates have put their names forward: current Liberal MP Karina Gould, former Liberal MPs Ruby Dhalla and Frank Baylis, and former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney.

All candidates in the race have to come up with $125,000 by mid-February as part of the entry fee of $350,000, according to The Canadian Press. The Liberal party says approximately 400,000 supporters are registered to vote in the leadership race before the deadline, CP reported.

Recent polling from Nanos Research for CTV News suggested support for Carney, at least when it comes to negotiating with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Respondents were asked to choose between Carney, Gould, Freeland and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre. Other leaders and candidates were not listed as options.

With files from The Canadian Press and CTV National News journalist Jeremie Charron