French-language federal election debate moved up 2 hours because of Habs hockey game
Posted April 15, 2025 10:16 am.
Last Updated April 16, 2025 12:42 pm.
If anyone needs more convincing that Montreal is the heart of the hockey world, this may do the trick.
Wednesday’s French-language federal election debate is being moved up two hours to limit the amount of time it coincides with what could be a crucial Canadiens game in their chase for a playoff spot.
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The debate is now scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. EDT in Montreal instead of 8 p.m. EDT.
The decision came hours after NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh called on organizers at the Leaders’ Debates Commission to move the debate “so Canadians don’t have to choose between democratic engagement and national pride.”
“We’re asking people — especially in Quebec — to choose between a critical democratic debate and cheering on the Habs in a must-win game,” said Singh in a statement. “This kind of political discussion shouldn’t compete with something that means so much to so many.”
The Montreal Canadiens, who are seeking a spot in the playoffs, are taking on the Carolina Hurricanes in the final game of the NHL season Wednesday, with puck drop scheduled for 7p.m. EDT.
But that game may not matter at all if the in-the-hunt Columbus Blue Jackets lose their encounter against the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night. If that happens, the Habs will be playoff-bound, and Thursday’s contest will be meaningless.
Earlier Tuesday, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet said he was open to reaching out to the commission about the conflict.
“Let me think about this, in all candor,” Blanchet said Tuesday when asked by a reporter. “And we’ll call the commission, see what they tell us.”
It’s not the first time an election debate was rescheduled because of a Canadiens game.
In 2011, a multi-partisan outcry led by then-Bloc Québécois leader Gilles Duceppe resulted in a debate being moved because it overlapped with a first-round playoff game against the Boston Bruins.
Duceppe said at the time there was little doubt hockey-mad Montreal fans would choose the game over the debate. Montreal went on to win that clash 2-0 on two goals by Brian Gionta, with Carey Price recording the 31-save shutout.
Both federal election debates will be streamed live on CityNews 24/7.
