With just days remaining before Canadians begin casting ballots in advance polls, the leaders of the four major federal parties will return to the national stage tonight for a pivotal English-language debate at 7 p.m. EDT. Liberal Leader Mark Carney, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, and Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet are set to confront each other one final time in a high-stakes showdown that could shape the campaign’s closing stretch.
Hosted by TVO’s Steve Paikin, the debate will focus on five key themes: affordability and cost of living, energy and climate, public safety, national security, and Canada’s position amid rising international tariffs. With Carney’s French-language debate performance still under scrutiny—and his recent dip in the polls—the spotlight is particularly intense for the Liberal leader, who is hoping to reassert his lead over Poilievre’s surging Conservatives.
Tonight’s broadcast will be available across CTV platforms including CTVNews.ca, CP24.com, BNNBloomberg.ca, their respective mobile apps, and YouTube channels. Special pre-debate coverage begins at 5 p.m. EDT, with CTV’s Power Play hosted by Vassy Kapelos. She’ll be joined by a panel of seasoned political strategists: Kory Teneycke, Kathleen Monk, and Scott Reid.
Meanwhile, controversy continues to surround the Green Party, which was officially excluded from both debates earlier this week. The decision followed an admission by Green co-leader Jonathan Pedneault that the party had deliberately withdrawn some candidates to avoid splitting the progressive vote—an act that the Leaders’ Debates Commission (LDC) viewed as violating its participation rules. Executive Director Michel Cormier stated that the strategic nature of the withdrawal was a clear breach, forcing the commission to revoke the Greens’ invitations.
Pedneault has publicly condemned the decision, calling it undemocratic and politically motivated. In interviews, he indicated that the party is weighing legal action, claiming that external threats, harassment, and bureaucratic hurdles were among the factors that led to fewer candidates being officially nominated. Cormier denied allegations of political interference and emphasized that the commission does not consult other parties when evaluating eligibility.
As tonight’s event promises to be the final national debate before Election Day on April 28, it offers a rare and crucial opportunity for undecided voters to compare the visions of the four major party leaders. With over 5.7 million Canadians voting early in the last federal election, tonight’s debate may prove decisive in determining who wins the trust of the electorate.
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