With the Montreal Canadiens fighting to keep their season alive, some federal leaders think political debates can wait.
Both the Bloc Québécois and NDP are asking the Leaders’ Debates Commission to reschedule the French-language federal election debate, currently set for Wednesday, April 16 at 8 p.m., because it overlaps with the Canadiens’ final regular season game — a potentially playoff-deciding matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes at the Bell Centre.
Bloc leader Yves-François Blanchet was the first to float the idea on Tuesday, telling reporters he was surprised the two events were scheduled on the same night. “If the date can be changed, let’s do it. It’s a good idea,” he said. “We’ll call the Leaders’ Debates Commission to see what they have to say.”
He added that the party would reach out to the commission to see what could be done.
The NDP echoed the call shortly after, releasing a statement saying the timing could seriously affect viewership. “This kind of scheduling conflict makes the political system feel disconnected from reality,” NDP leader Jagmeet Singh wrote, arguing that broadcasting the only French-language debate of the campaign during a major Habs game would hurt citizen engagement and viewership.
Believe it or not, it’s not the first time hockey has forced a shift in the national agenda. In 2011, the Bloc successfully lobbied to have a federal debate rescheduled to avoid it taking place during a Canadiens playoff game. This time, the Habs aren’t quite in yet — but Wednesday’s game could be the one that seals it.
As of April 15, the Canadiens sit in the final wild card spot, with the Blue Jackets on their heels. Montreal’s playoff fate could very well come down to that final game. Then again, if Columbus fails to get a regulation win against the Philadelphia Flyers tonight, the Habs will have already punched their ticket, making tomorrow’s matchup less dramatic.
So, political debate or playoff push? We’ll let you decide. But if the Commission doesn’t move the date, you may want to keep a second screen handy Wednesday night.
Wondering how to tune into the French and English debates? Here’s a helpful guide.
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