The Conservative Party of Canada has announced it will hold a third leadership debate for the candidates seeking to succeed Erin O’Toole as the party’s official leader, although presumptive front-runner Pierre Poilievre is not expected to attend.
The party’s Leadership Elections Organizing Committee (LEOC) said it decided to hold a third debate after polling 24,000 members and finding 65% supported the move.
The announcement will be welcomed by former Quebec premier and leadership candidate Jean Charest, who called for a third debate in a social media post Wednesday afternoon.
Along with Charest, candidates Scott Aitchison and Roman Baber have expressed support for a third debate.
Leslyn Lewis’ campaign recently said she was traveling the country meeting with party members but would attend a third debate if the party decided to hold one.
The Ayes have it! LEOC holds a third leadership debate. Thanks to the 24,000 members who responded to our poll, voting overwhelmingly (65%) for more actions. Pay attention to detail. #cdnpoli
– @ CPC_HQ
Poilievre’s team says no
But the campaign team representing Poilievre, the Ottawa-area MP considered the favorite to win the race, said shortly after the debate was announced that he will not disrupt his schedule to attend the event.
Poilievre’s campaign suggested the party leadership is holding a third debate to make up for the first English-language debate held in May, which was notable for an unorthodox format that included the use of props and sound effects .
“It was not the campaign’s fault that the party’s Edmonton debate was widely recognized as an embarrassment,” Poilievre’s team said in a media statement released Thursday afternoon.
The campaign said that instead of preparing for and attending a third debate, Poilievre will focus on ensuring that registered party members cast their ballots.
“Pierre will be back on the road, non-stop, to help make this happen,” the campaign said.
Pierre Poilievre’s campaign statement on the LEOC’s decision to propose another leadership election debate pic.twitter.com/HdksWKsqYX
—@Jenni_Byrne
Poilievre could be disciplined by the party if he does not attend the debate.
LEOC rules state that candidates “must participate in person in all party-sanctioned debates.”
The rules state that failure to attend would result in an automatic penalty of $50,000 (or other fine deemed “appropriate under the circumstances”) to be deducted from the deposit required of all candidates.
Candidates were warned of a possible third debate
Members saw the candidates act in two debates approved by the party in May. The English-language debate took place in Edmonton, followed by a French-language debate in Laval, Que.
The party said in the campaigns that they could wait for the candidates to be summoned for a possible third debate in early August.
The spread of Charest and the call for another debate comes when party members have begun voting for their next leader and the party has begun validating the ballots that have been returned.
The party is seeking a voter list of more than 670,000 names, which is more than double the size it was when members elected O’Toole to lead the Conservatives in 2020.
The official results of this race will be announced in Ottawa on September 10th.