The bilingual event, with the first half participating in English, began at 6 p.m. ET. Three candidates take questions in a roundtable format for about an hour and a half: Jean Charest, former Quebec premier and onetime leader of the federal Progressive Conservatives; Conservative MP Scott Aitchison. and former Ontario MPP Roman Baber. Topics include Indigenous issues, climate change, affordability, transportation and health. The debate, which is being held without a studio audience, comes just over a month from when the party will choose its third permanent leader in five years on September 10. The party confirmed on Wednesday that it has already received around 150,000 ballots from an electoral roll of more than 670,000 names. The number of party members is more than double what it was when Erin O’Toole was chosen to lead the Conservatives in 2020.
Poilievre, Lewis sitting outside talking
MPs Pierre Poilievre and Leslyn Lewis are hosting meet and greets with supporters at the same time as Wednesday’s debate in Regina, Sask., and Cornwall, PEI, respectively. Poilievre’s team had previously signaled they would not participate in the debate because they felt the first debate in May was “an embarrassment” and instead want to drum up voter support. Lewis said she had not received information about the format of the debate and had told the party she would not be available on the date set for the event. “Their decision is up to them,” Aitchison said before entering the debate area. “Party members deserve to be treated with respect. It’s as simple as that,” Charest said moments later. According to party rules, candidates must attend official party debates or face a $50,000 fine. The party’s Leadership Election Organizing Committee said it decided to hold a third debate after finding that a majority of polled members supported the move.
