- French debate taking place Feb. 24, English debate happening on Feb. 25
By: Benjamin Lopez Steven · CBC News
All five Liberal leadership candidates say they’ve paid the final $125,000 due Monday evening that’s required to stay in the race. Now, ahead of English and French debates in Montreal next week, the contenders are rolling out more policy proposals to sway Canadians to join their side.
On Monday morning, the Liberal Party announced former TVA-Québec anchor Pierre Jobin would moderate the French leadership debate in Montreal on Feb. 24. The party also announced former CBC News host Hannah Thibedeau would moderate the English debate that will take on Feb. 25.
Ahead of those two debates, candidates have been trotting out policy proposals on a whole host of issues, including federal government spending, housing, energy, food security and employment insurance.
Mark Carney
The former governor of the Bank of Canada is considered the front-runner in the contest by the Liberal caucus, boasting more than 80 endorsements from MPs and cabinet ministers. On Monday afternoon, Carney’s campaign told CBC News it’s submitted the final $125,000 instalment.
On Sunday, Carney sat down for an interview on Rosemary Barton Live and said a federal government led by him would run a deficit “to invest and a grow” Canada’s economy…
Chrystia Freeland
Former finance minister and deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland trails Carney with 26 endorsements from Liberal MPs and cabinet ministers, though she’s previously said her campaign is focused on the party’s grassroots. Freeland, who led Canada’s response to Trump during his first term, has angled herself to voters as a tested negotiator to take on the U.S. president during his second term.
In an interview on Sunday with MSNBC anchor Ali Velshi, Freeland said Trump’s tariffs — which would most likely trigger a trade war between Canada and the U.S. — are an “act of huge self-mutilation.”..
Karina Gould
Former government House leader Karina Gould has picked up endorsements from MPs Lisa Hepfner and Pam Damoff. Her campaign told CBC News on Sunday it made the final payment four days in advance of the Monday deadline.
In an interview on Power & Politics airing Monday, Gould said the $125,000 “was a high fee, but we’ve got momentum across the country.” She added her average donation is $130…
Frank Baylis
Montreal business leader Frank Baylis, the first person to declare his intent to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, told CBC News on Monday that he didn’t have any issues raising the required dollars for the leadership race. He added most of his supporters are from “cultural communities” and people in the business world.
Also on Monday, Baylis unveiled his energy security plan…
Ruby Dhalla
Former MP Ruby Dhalla, who is billing herself as the true outsider in the race, told reporters on Monday her campaign paid the $125,000 last Friday. She said thousands of Liberals are supporting her vision for Canada and “that’s why people have been so generous in their donations. Dhalla has been running to the right of her opponents, promising to deport illegal immigrants and impose life sentences for possession of hard drugs. She’s also called for an “economic czar” to identify waste and overspending and a new “health czar” to review Canada’s health-care system…
Source: cbc.ca/news/politics
Monday, April 27, 2026
