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Canadian politicians are sticking to sports.
A Wednesday night debate between federal party leaders was moved up from 8 p.m. Eastern to 6 p.m. in an attempt to better avoid a Montreal Canadiens game that starts at 7 p.m.
The Canadiens face the Hurricanes in a game that would secure a playoff spot if they win. Two party leaders asked to move the time of the debate out of fear the game would eat into potential viewership.
Five party leaders will debate each other twice in the same week: one in English and one in French. The country’s national election is April 28 to elect members to the House of Commons.
In a dual statement announcing the time change, Radio-Canada and the Debates Commission acknowledged “Canadians’ passion for hockey” as a reason for the change.
“Citizens will thus be able to not miss anything from this crucial moment in the election campaign while following the decisive periods of the hockey game that could allow the Montreal Canadiens to reach the playoffs,” the statement read.
New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh and Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet both called on the Debates Commission to change the time in order to appease fans.
“Hockey is in our blood,” Singh said in a statement. “This scheduling conflict makes the political system look out of touch and is going to have a serious impact on who tunes in to the only French debate of the campaign.”
Blanchet brought the issue up during a Tuesday press conference, mentioning that he had written to the Debates Commission seeking a time change.
“Let’s not underestimate the importance of this debate for Quebec democracy, on the one hand,” he said. “Let’s not underestimate the quality of the game, either.”
This isn’t the first time the country’s election cycle has had to accommodate hockey. In 2011, then-Bloc leader Gilles Duceppe asked for a debate to be postponed over a Canadiens game and got his wish.
The Canadiens could have clinched a playoff spot on Tuesday night making the debate’s time change unnecessary, but the Blue Jackets beat the Flyers 3–0 in regulation to keep their own postseason hopes alive.
To secure a playoff spot, the Canadiens need to get just one point against the Hurricanes, meaning an overtime loss would be enough. If they lose in regulation, their playoff hopes depend on the result of the Blue Jackets game on Thursday.
The Canadiens have made the playoffs every year since the 2020–2021 season, when they made the Stanley Cup Finals, but lost to the Lightning in five games.
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