French leaders’ debate advanced by two hours to avoid conflict with Habs game

MONTREAL – Politics bowed to Canada’s most popular sport on Tuesday, when the French-language leaders’ debate was abruptly rescheduled to minimize a conflict with a Montreal Canadiens hockey game.

Two federal party leaders called for the Wednesday evening debate to be moved, raising concerns that the game could siphon off potential viewers. 

The televised event will now take place two hours earlier than planned, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. EDT in Montreal. The NHL team will face off against the Carolina Hurricanes at 7 p.m. EDT, in a game that could clinch them a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

In a statement, Radio-Canada and the Leaders’ Debates Commission said they were “recognizing Canadians’ passion for hockey” in their decision to move the debate. 

“Citizens will be able to catch this crucial moment in the election campaign while also following the decisive periods of the hockey game that could put the Montreal Canadiens in the playoffs,” the statement reads. 

Earlier in the day, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet had both called on debate organizers to reschedule the event. 

“Hockey is in our blood,” Singh said in a statement. “This scheduling conflict makes the political system look out of touch and is going to have a serious impact on who tunes in to the only French debate of the campaign.”

During a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, Blanchet said he had written to the debates commission. 

“Let’s not underestimate the importance of this debate for Quebec democracy, on the one hand,” he told reporters. “Let’s not underestimate the quality of the game, either.”

In a statement after the timing change was announced, the Bloc said it was pleased with the decision. 

This isn’t the first time NHL hockey has elbowed its way onto a campaign trail. During the 2011 election, former Bloc leader Gilles Duceppe asked for a debate to be postponed due to a Canadiens hockey game, and his request was granted. 

Liberal Leader Mark Carney also acknowledged the unfortunate timing on Tuesday, saying the French-language debate would be a chance “to inform those Canadians who choose to watch the debate instead of the Habs game.”

But Blanchet took a swipe at Carney, whose French is the weakest of the major party leaders. “Obviously, we all have the impression… that the fewer people listening to the debate, the happier Mr. Carney is,” he said.

“If he had the opportunity to cancel it, he probably would.”

Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter

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The Canadiens could have qualified for the playoffs if the Columbus Blue Jackets had failed to win in regulation Tuesday night.

The Blue Jackets did win in regulation, however, raising the stakes for the Canadiens’ final game of the regular season on Wednesday, which could be their last chance to capture a spot in the NHL playoffs.

If the Canadiens lose in regulation, their fate will depend on the outcome of the Blue Jackets’ game on Thursday. 

– With files from Patrice Bergeron in Montreal

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 15, 2025.