The New Democratic Party is requesting that Wednesday evening’s French-language debate be postponed rather than held on the same night the Habs are making their last bid for a spot in the playoffs.
“We’re asking people โ especially in Quebec โ to choose between a critical democratic debate and cheering on the Habs in a must-win game,” NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says in a news release Tuesday.
“This kind of political discussion shouldn’t compete with something that means so much to so many.”
The debate falls on the same night the Montreal Canadiens will be playing their final game of the regular season, marking their third and final chance to clinch a playoff spot.
In 2011, then Bloc Quรฉbรฉcois leader Gilles Duceppe led the charge to reschedule the French-language debate to avoid conflict with a Canadiens-Bruins playoff game.
This time around, Blocย Leader Yves Franรงois-Blanchet said he also put in a request to reschedule with the Leaders’ Debates Commission.
CBC News requested comment from the commission but did not hear back.
Bloc Quรฉbรฉcois Leader Yves Franรงois-Blanchet is asked about the Montreal Canadiens playing a game that could clinch them a playoff spot the same evening as the French-language federal election debate. In 2011, then Bloc Quรฉbรฉcois leader Gilles Duceppe led the charge to reschedule the French-language debate to avoid conflict with a Canadiens-Bruins playoff game. Blanchet said he would get in touch with the Leadersโ Debates Commission to float the idea rescheduling this year’s debate, too.
For his part, Liberal Leader Mark Carney toldย reporters he will “focus on transparency to inform those Canadians who choose to watch the debate instead of the Habs game.”
The Montreal Canadiens missed another opportunity to clinch a playoff spot with a 4-3 shootout loss to the Chicago Blackhawks Monday.
After Monday’s loss, the Canadiens have 89 points, four more than the Columbus Blue Jackets, with one game remaining Wednesday at home against the Carolina Hurricanes.
The Blue Jackets โ the only other team still in the wild-card hunt โ have two games left, starting with a visit to Philadelphia on Tuesday.
If Columbus fails to win both its remaining games in regulation or Montreal earns at least one point against Carolina, the Canadiens advance to the post-season with a first-round series against the Washington Capitals.
The last time the Habs reached the playoffs was 2021.
Hockey is important, but so is the debate, said Antonine Yaccarini, a political analyst and former political staffer at the provincial level. The hockey game will likely get more attention, but it’s also complicated to postpone a debate, she said.
“It’s a lot of work to put together. A lot of negotiations with the political parties,” said Yaccarini. “So it has to be a very good reason to be moved.”
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