This year I might watch the first Canadian Election Debate ever! Hmmm ... 1,774 comments for a CBC article! I guess a lot more people will be watching this election debate who might otherwise not.

Sonar

Bernier's in — and the federal election debates just got less predictable

In such a tight race, Bernier's sudden elevation to the big stage will change the debate dynamic

Chris Hall · CBC News · Posted: Sep 17, 2019

The stage is set for Maxime Bernier. His challenge now is to perform.

The leader of the nascent People's Party of Canada (PPC) yesterday got his coveted invitation to take part in the two televised debates organized by the independent Leaders' Debate Commission. The debates — one in English and the other in French — will be held on Oct. 7 and Oct 10.

The invitation extended by debates Commissioner David Johnston reverses a preliminary ruling last month that found Bernier didn't meet two of the commission's three criteria to qualify.

Johnston's initial conclusion was that, according to polling data current at the time, the PPC didn't have a "legitimate chance" to win more than one seat. He gave the PPC time to submit more material to change his mind.

And now Johnston has — by citing polling data from four ridings the PPC itself had identified as winnable and by factoring in what Johnston called the "recent political context" that included the party's membership and fundraising activity.

So Bernier's in. What does that mean for him, his party and the debates themselves?

For Bernier, the benefits are obvious. Johnston's conclusion that his party has a real chance of winning more than one seat confers a new level of legitimacy on the PPC and its core messages.

The outlier candidate

"Canadians will be able to look at all the options," Bernier said after the decision was released Monday. "I can tell you that the People's Party is a real, national party with serious reforms that need to be done for a freer and more prosperous country."

The debates give Bernier a national stage upon which to promote his ideas — many of which are at direct odds with those of the other parties, and some of which challenge some of this country's long-standing policies in support of an egalitarian and open society.

Bernier has vowed to defend what he calls a "Canadian identity" by limiting immigration and requiring those who come to this country to first pass a 'values' test. He also would do away with official multiculturalism.

How to watch the federal leaders' debates — and (maybe) get your question asked
Maxime Bernier invited to participate in official commission debates
Bernier is alone among federal party leaders in saying he would eliminate all government subsidies to industry and kill supply management.

And the PPC rejects the scientific consensus that human activity is the principal cause of global warming. Its platform promises to withdraw from the Paris climate accord, scrap any price on carbon and withdraw subsidies for green technology.

"Despite what global warming propaganda claims, carbon dioxide is not a pollutant," the party's platform says. "It is an essential ingredient for life on earth and needed for plant growth."

More, with pics and video at the link below:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/maxime-bernier-peoples-party-federal-election-debate-2019-1.5285871