Canada Votes 2025: Habs in, Greens out: French language debate time changed for hockey game, Green Party's invitation revoked
Canadiens can make the playoffs tonight, Green co-leader thinks a last-minute decision will let him in
A week ago, if you were a Green Party voter and a Montreal Canadiens fan, you had a real dilemma on your hands for the French language federal election debate tonight, April 16, 2025.
As party leaders polish up their French-language debate skills, the Habs fight to clinch a playoff spot.
For that Green-Habs fan now, however, there's good news and bad news: The good news is that organizers moved the debate time to avoid the game, a truly only-in-Canada decision. The bad news is the Green Party's invite has been revoked.
The independent commission in charge of the two leaders’ debates announced Wednesday (April 16, 2025) morning that inclusion of a Green leader would “undermine the integrity of the debates” because the Greens intentionally reduced the number of candidates running in the election for strategic reasons.
In order to qualify for the debates, parties need to meet two of three criteria:
1. Run candidates in at least 90 per cent of Canada’s 343 ridings;
2. Poll above four per cent; and
3. Have a sitting member of parliament.
Co-leader of the Green Party Jonathan Pedneault called the decision at the last minute, the day of the debate, “unjust and baseless.”
“It protects the ones who pave over the truth, who bulldoze through public interest and leave the rest of us to pick up the pieces,” he said at a press conference.
Pedneault wouldn't say anything else, but the rules are clear and the Greens are polling at under three per cent (338Canada.com projects they win zero seats), and they have not named candidates in more than 100 ridings, not even close to 90 per cent.
This is the same reason People's Party of Canada leader Maxime Bernier is not invited to debates. The PPC meets none of the three criteria.
As for the Habs, if their six-game winning streak from March into April continued, they would have made the final wild-card slot in the Eastern Conference. Instead, they've been on a three-game losing streak while the Columbia Blue Jackets have surged thanks to backup goaltender Jet Greaves who has let in one goal in the last three games.
If Montreal wins or at least gets tonight's game to overtime, they are in the playoffs. If they lose in regulation, they still could make it in. But if Columbus wins in regulation Thursday night against the Islanders, the Habs are out.
The French leaders’ debate starts at 3 p.m. PST tonight, Wednesday, April 16. The English debate is tomorrow, Thursday, April 17 at 4 p.m. PST. Both are on CBC, CTV, Global and streamed online.
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Paul J. Henderson
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French debate tonightHockey game bumps French debate time, Green Party's invitation revoked