OTTAWA — Liberal leadership candidates are squaring off in a French-language debate in Montreal.
The event is set to run from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. and is being moderated by former TVA-Québec anchor Pierre Jobin.
Here's the latest (all times Eastern):
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8:15 p.m.
While discussing Canada-U.S. relations, Mark Carney says Trump is more aggressive now than he has been in the past and Canada has to strengthen its economy to build up its negotiating position. Karina Gould says the president respects force and that she knows how to engage with such people.
Asked whether exports of electricity to the U.S. should be cut, Chrystia Freeland says she welcomes that idea. Gould says Americans need to understand that they depend on Canadian resources.
Asked how to ensure that Canada's provincial, territorial and federal governments work together against Trump's threats, Carney says premiers need to be convened to work on eliminating interprovincial trade barriers. Gould says Canada needs to have a calm leader who can unite people and that domestic trade barriers need to be torn down.
Asked how to convince Canadians that they should stay united, Freeland says Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre can't unite Canada and is too weak to stand up to Trump. Carney says Poilievre is trying to divide Canadians.
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8:05 p.m.
The candidates deliver their opening remarks. Each of the candidates touch on Canada's economy, the threats from the United States and Canada's sovereignty.
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8:02 p.m.
The French debate begins.
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7:35 p.m.
Shortly before the start of the French debate, Liberal Party of Canada national director Azam Ishmael says in a news release that the party's permanent appeals committee confirmed the decision of the leadership vote committee to disqualify Ruby Dhalla from the leadership race.
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6:30 p.m.
The moderator of Tuesday's English debate, former CBC journalist Hannah Thibedeau of Global Public Affairs, says in an interview that the themes of the debate were chosen by registered Liberals.
She says candidates will be asked identical questions on the various themes and will have one minute to answer them. They will also take part in five-minute debate periods.
Thibedeau says the French-language debate is going to be interesting because big names from Quebec chose not to run and the candidates are from different parts of the country.
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6:12 p.m.
Disqualified candidate Ruby Dhalla posts on X that she loves Quebec and was looking forward to sharing her vision during the debate. The Liberal party kicked her out of the race on Friday, alleging she broke the rules. She has filed an appeal for reinstatement.
Earlier this month, the party denied Dhalla's request for a translator for the French debate.
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6:02 p.m.
Liberal party president Sachit Mehra posts a video on X with Pierre Jobin, the debate's moderator. Jobin says the team is ready for the debate and has been working all weekend, just like the candidates.
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5:55 p.m.
Mark Carney arrives at the debate venue to a small group of young supporters cheering and chanting his name. The supporters waited in the rain outside a security toll booth at the private event, despite not being able to enter and watch it live. Carney did not stop to take questions.
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5:40 p.m.
About 20 Carney supporters, many of them holding red signs with his logo, wait outside the debate venue for the presumed front-runner to arrive. The debate is being held at a studio in an industrial area in southwest Montreal.
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4:06 p.m.
Candidate Karina Gould posts a photo on X with a tie that's been cut — a reference to an iconic pre-debate scene from the TV show "The West Wing."
Leading up to the French debate, candidate Frank Baylis also posts to X stating that he's proud of his language and is committed to protecting and promoting the French language and culture.
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4 p.m.
Liberal leadership candidates Mark Carney, Chrystia Freeland, Karina Gould and Frank Baylis are expected to arrive in Montreal later today for the French-language debate, set to begin at 8 p.m.
The Liberal Party of Canada has shared the list of topics up for discussion. They include Canada-U. S. relations, growing Canada's economy, affordability, housing and health care, and climate action.
The candidates shared posts and videos on social media about their priorities ahead of the debate, with Carney's campaign releasing policy documents Monday that flesh out his economic and housing plans.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 24, 2025.
The Canadian Press
