The candidates in the race to be the next leader of the Liberal Party of Canada will square off tonight in the first of two live debates.
With just two weeks left until the winner is announced and two days until voting begins, the two events are the only chance Liberal supporters will have to see the candidates together.
Former central banker Mark Carney, former finance minister Chrystia Freeland, former House leader Karina Gould and former MP Frank Baylis are the only candidates still in the contest.
The party disqualified former Ontario MP Ruby Dhalla on Friday afternoon alleging she broke the rules, though she announced yesterday she had filed an appeal for reinstatement.
Former TVA-Québec anchor Pierre Jobin is expected to moderate the French language debate tonight.
The winner of the race will replace Justin Trudeau not only as Liberal leader but as prime minister, though an election is expected widely soon after.
Carney posted a video on social media yesterday pushing his promise to balance the government’s operational budget within three years.
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Carney however has said he would increase the government’s spending on investments that grow the economy and create good jobs including on housing, clean energy and new trade routes to reduce Canada’s reliance on the United States.
In her own video yesterday, Freeland visited the farm shew grew up on in Peace River, Alta., touting her connection and understanding of people who “work with their hands” and contribute greatly to Canada’s economy.
