Plans scrapped for French-language debate in New Brunswick campaign
FREDERICTON — Plans for a French-language election debate have been scrapped in New Brunswick, with the Liberals and Tories each blaming the other — and even Quebec’s premier expressing disappointment.
Radio-Canada Acadie cancelled plans after Progressive Conservative Leader Blaine Higgs said he couldn’t debate in French but another candidate could step in, and the Liberals said they would only be in a debate with the leaders.
Denis Robichaud, executive producer with Radio-Canada Acadie, says a number of options were presented, but the Liberals only wanted a leaders’ debate.
“The leader of the PC party is not able to debate in French, so that is the first step. We came back with other options, and the main reason why we weren’t able to go with those options is because the Liberal party only wanted a debate that would oppose the leaders,” Robichaud said.