Conservative leadership candidates Roman Baber, from left, Scott Aitchison and Jean Charest prepare for the start of the leadership debate in Ottawa on Wednesday. Adrian Wilde/The Canadian Press
Jean Charest hit out at the absent candidates in the latest Conservative leadership debate, saying that turning out at such events was a show of respect for the party members who will elect the new leader.
The former Quebec premier did not directly name Pierre Poillievre, considered the front-runner, or Leslyn Lewis, who were in Regina and Prince Edward Island, respectively. Both had said they would not take part in the debate because of concerns about its format and that they preferred to engage with members.
The other two candidates — Ontario MP Scott Aitchison and Roman Baber, a former Progressive Conservative in the Ontario legislature — dodged the question of missing candidates.
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But Mr Charest, who has been particularly critical of Mr Poilievre, said during the 90-minute event that a leadership candidate who did not show up for the debate was like a fish that did not want to swim in the ocean.
“All my life I’ve been showing up,” Mr. Charest said, citing his role in such challenges as rebuilding the Progressive Conservative Party after its 1993 defeat and his work in Quebec referendums. “I showed up at every moment when it was important to the country, when it was important to my party, when it was important to the future of Canada.”
He added: “Leadership is about fighting and showing up. It’s not about running away.
While Mr Charest did not mention Mr Poilievre by name during the debate, posts on his Twitter account included one with the note “Where’s Pierre?” mocking Mr Poilievre.
In Regina, Mr. Poilievre said Wednesday night that he was glad not to attend the debate.
“I can tell you there’s no place I’d rather be right now. I was told that instead of being here with all of you in Saskatchewan, I could be locked in a small hotel room around a small table and listening to a defeated Liberal premier about his latest carbon tax idea,” Mr. Poilievre told supporters is in a video posted by CTV.
“I don’t know if you’ve seen the picture of that thing they put up. They seem to be playing a little card game, but there are no cards. I’d rather be here and talk to real people.
Ms Lewis and Mr Poillievre face $50,000 in party fines for skipping the debate.
A press secretary for Ms. Lewis, Michael Hetrick, said in a statement that “Dr. Lewis has committed to meeting local grassroots members in person today. She keeps those commitments.”
Previous debates have been held in front of audiences in Edmonton and Laval, Que. When the party asked for a third, members voted in favor. It was in a studio without an audience. Party president Rob Batterson moderated the event, which included sections in French and English.
Conservative leadership favorite Pierre Poillievre attends a barbecue party in Calgary on July 9. He faces a $50,000 fine from the party for skipping the debate. Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press
Mr. Charest, a former leader of the federal Progressive Conservative Party who governed Quebec from 2003 to 2012, said he could lead the Conservatives to victory after repeated defeats. He referred to his experience leading federal and provincial factions and campaigning in federal and provincial elections.
“I can win a majority government and that’s what we need,” he said in his opening remarks.
Mr Aitchison touted his credentials as a former mayor and his plan to end the country’s housing crisis, which he calls his “YIMBY” plan, focused on building new homes. He also called for taxes to be “simple, predictable, fair and low”.
Mr. Baber began by talking about what he called a mental health “catastrophe” in Canada and said he would end the COVID-19 restrictions. “I hear from a lot of Canadians how hurt they are by segregation in the 21st century,” he said, noting that he was kicked out of Ontario’s Progressive Conservative faction for opposing the locks.
Leslyn Lewis makes her case at the Conservative leadership debate in Edmonton on May 11. Ms Lewis said last week she would skip Wednesday’s debate unless topics such as abortion and the World Economic Forum were raised. Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press
During the largely jovial meeting, the candidates debated topics including climate change, airport chaos, health care and housing. “We all get along,” Mr. Aitchison said at one point during a discussion about the environment.
However, he repeatedly pressed Mr Charest on whether he would stay on to help the Conservatives if he did not win the leadership. The former prime minister did not answer the question.
Pressed into the fray after the debate about what he would do if he didn’t win, Mr. Charest quickly dismissed that scenario.
“We are like boxers at the end of our match. We’re in the 12th round and they interrupt us to say, “Well, what are you going to do if you don’t [win]?'” he said. “The truth is, I’m focused on one single goal – which I’m going to achieve – and that’s to become the leader of the party and then the Prime Minister of Canada. A monthly cycle.”
Mr Batterson said the party had received 150,000 ballots from members. The deadline for voting is September 6. The winner will be announced on September 10th.
The Conservatives recently reported that membership reached 678,708, a record for a Canadian political party.
This compares with more than 269,000 people registered for the 2020 Conservative leadership race – a record for the party at the time.
In addition, Mr. Poilievre received the most contributions from leadership candidates in the second quarter. According to Elections Canada, he raised just over $4 million, while Mr. Charest raised almost $1.4 million.
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