No English Debate for Quebec Election as Key Leaders Decline

An English-language debate planned for the fall Quebec provincial election will not take place after key party leaders refused to attend. Leaders from the Coalition Avenir du Quebec and the Parti Québécois announced they would not participate, citing scheduling conflicts and a need to prioritize campaign activities. The Parti Québécois stated that an increased number of debates and meetings required them to make difficult choices about their campaign focus. Both parties, however, expressed a commitment to finding other ways to engage with the English-speaking community. Representatives from Québec solidaire and the Conservative Party of Quebec confirmed their leaders' willingness to participate. The Quebec Liberal Party indicated its leader would join if all five major parties agreed. The debate, organized by Montreal's major English-language media, was scheduled for September 24 and planned for broadcast across television, radio, and online platforms to maximize reach before the October 5 election. This decision marks a departure from 2018 when leaders participated in a historic English debate, and from 2022 when the same two parties also declined participation.

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make choices