Maclean’s National Leaders Debate may be only one with all four leaders participating
Posted August 3, 2015 11:32 pm.
Last Updated August 4, 2015 7:46 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – The Maclean’s National Leaders Debate is just days away and it’s looking more and more likely it will be the only one where you’ll hear from all four party bosses.
NDP Leader Tom Mulcair says if Conservative Leader Stephen Harper isn’t going to attend any other debates, which is what the Tories have said, then he’s not going to either. However, the move essentially gives Harper the power to decide which debate the NDP takes part in.
UBC Political Scientist Max Cameron isn’t surprised by any of this.
“What Mulcair is doing is holding Harper’s feet to the fire a little bit and trying to bring a little bit of pressure on him that suggests that either he should show up to that debate or if he doesn’t then there should be some kind of political cost to be paid for missing out.”
“If he was desperate for publicity and desperate to be on the podium you wouldn’t take that stand,” adds Cameron.
The expert feels this is proof of Mulcair’s growing confidence. “By saying, ‘I’ve got no reason to be part of this if the Prime Minister is not going to be a part of it — what’s the point of having to debate where the head of the government isn’t there?'”
Cameron thinks Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, who is lagging in the polls, has the most to gain from this debate.
The Maclean’s National Leaders Debate takes place at 5 p.m. PT this Thursday.
You can watch it live on CityTV or OMNI and of course, we will be streaming it live on this website.
