(Laval) The aspiring Conservative leaders are preparing to face each other in a debate in French, Wednesday evening in Laval, and the questions surrounding Bill 96, adopted the day before by the National Assembly, will no doubt be invited .
Posted at 7:02 p.m.
The purpose of a thematic segment will be for the candidates to indicate what they would do to ensure that their political party has more seats in Quebec. The six opponents will therefore be able to seize the ball at the leap to confront their positions on a possible federal intervention in legal challenges to the CAQ reform of the Charter of the French language – law 96 to be sanctioned.
In the eyes of the consultant and political analyst Rudy Husny, it is clear that this issue will be discussed even if the moderator will probably not ask a question directly on this point.
“I think that, in a proactive way, certain campaigns will want to talk about it,” said in an interview with The Canadian Press, the man who is also a former contender for the Conservative leadership.
Mr. Husny pointed out that candidate Scott Aitchison notably signaled his strong opposition to Bill 96 in a statement relayed on Twitter. In his opinion, candidates who cannot speak French are in a bad position to criticize the piece of legislation.
Wednesday evening’s debate also promises to be the first opportunity for other candidates such as former Quebec Premier Jean Charest or Pierre Poilievre – an Ontario MP considered to be the leader of the race – to take a clear position.
“Law 21, we know the positions, but Law 96, it will be interesting to see what they will say and how they will say it,” argued Mr. Husny.
One thing is certain, the mayor of Brampton Patrick Brown will likely seize the opportunity to bring up the question of the challenge to the State Secularism Act, he who has involved other cities than his own in his financial crusade. .
Public safety and official languages, among other topics
The Conservative Party of Canada (CPC) has confirmed to The Canadian Press the 10 themes of the oratorical contest, which risks being dominated by exchanges between Pierre Poilievre and Jean Charest, since they are the ones who best master the language of Moliere.
In addition to deciding on ways to make gains in Quebec, the aspiring leaders will also have to show their colors on public safety, the environment and energy, official languages, inflation, trade, immigration, health, foreign affairs and their vision for the future of the CCP.
The format of the debate will also be different from the one that took place in English earlier this month, the format of which had drawn much criticism. The political formation informed The Canadian Press that each theme will give rise to an open debate of four minutes, after the end of a speaking turn granted to each, in turn.
Candidates will also be imposed a rule: the prohibition to pronounce the name of one of their rivals. The idea behind this is to center the debate around exchanges of views rather than personal attacks, a CCP spokesperson said.
If a candidate contravenes, he will be cut off from part of his speaking time, it was specified. No sound effects such as that of the sad trombone (“sad trombone”), which sounded several times during the oratorical jousting in English, should be heard this time.
Wednesday night’s debate, which is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m., is the last of those announced by the CCP.
Candidates have until the end of next week to convince supporters to buy party membership cards. This will allow them to vote for the person they want to succeed Erin O’Toole. The winner of the race, elected by means of a preferential ballot, will be known on September 10th.