Poilieve offers up $75Gs entry fee so Carney will participate in TVA debate​on March 25, 2025 at 5:44 pm

OTTAWA — Pas d’excuses.

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That was Pierre Poilievre’s message to Mark Carney on Tuesday, reacting to the Liberal leader’s abrupt flip-flop in his assurances that he would participate in Quebec broadcaster TVA’s now-cancelled televised French-language debate.

“His excuses are changing from day-to-day,” Poilievre said during a press conference in Vaughan.

“Mark Carney says he doesn’t want to debate because there’s a fee. Well, I’ll pay the fee. He says that he doesn’t want to debate because (Green Party Leader) Elizabeth May wasn’t invited.  Well, I’ll invite her.”

Responding to reporters’ questions Monday on Poilievre’s challenge to participate in TVA’s Face-à-Face debate, Carney mockingly said he’d gladly participate.

“Why not? Yes, yes,” Carney said in French.

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But just hours later, Carney’s campaign said he would not be taking part, without giving a reason — later amending the rationale by saying it was because the Green Party wasn’t invited to attend.

TVA had asked participants to pay $75,000 each to participate in the televised debate to defray production costs.

While the Bloc Quebecois, NDP and Conservatives all agreed to participate, the Liberals’ backing out prompted TVA to cancel the broadcast outright.

“If he’s still too weak and fragile to debate at TVA, then he’s too weak and fragile to stand up to Donald Trump and for our country,” Poilievre said.

Carney’s poor grasp of French haunted him even during the Liberal leadership race, with notable gaffes marking his campaign to replace former PM Justin Trudeau.

Carney will still participate in the campaign’s two official leadership debates in Montreal — the French debate takes place April 16, with the English debate happening one night later.

On Tuesday, Poilievre revised his pre-election promises to eliminate sales tax on new homes to include properties up to $1.3 million, which the party says will save Canadians upwards of $65,000.

bpassifiume@postmedia.com
X: @bryanpassifiume

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