Carney skipping unofficial debates, say rival campaigns

The Liberal leadership race is heating up as official debates are set to take place on Monday and Tuesday. However, some candidates have expressed their willingness to engage in debates in other settings as well.

One candidate who has been notably absent from these unofficial debates is perceived front-runner Mark Carney. Sources from rival campaigns have indicated that Carney has declined invitations to participate in these events.

One such debate was hosted by the National Women’s Liberal Commission, where Carney’s absence was duly noted. Former Liberal MP Ruby Dhalla took to social media to express her disappointment in Carney’s decision to skip the event.

While Carney’s camp cited scheduling conflicts as the reason for his absence, they did express openness to meeting with the commission at a later date.

Other candidates, such as former finance minister Chrystia Freeland and former MP Frank Baylis, have been actively participating in these unofficial debates. However, sources have indicated that some of these events are not moving forward due to Carney’s non-participation.

Despite the lack of obligation for candidates to participate in unofficial debates, these events provide an opportunity for candidates to connect with Liberal members and voters ahead of the leadership vote on March 9.

Carney will have the chance to showcase his debating skills in both English and French next week when he faces off against the other four candidates. The stakes are high, as recent fundraising figures and endorsements suggest Carney is the front-runner in the race.

According to fundraising numbers released by Elections Canada, Carney has raised a significant amount of money from a large number of contributors. In contrast, Freeland’s official fundraising figures fall short of Carney’s totals, although her team claims the actual amount raised is higher.

In addition to fundraising success, Carney has also secured a majority of caucus and cabinet support, with endorsements from key figures such as Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc.

As the Liberal leadership race continues to unfold, all eyes will be on the upcoming official debates where candidates will have the opportunity to make their case to Liberal members and supporters.