National Times Bureau, April 16, 2025: In a moment that perfectly captured Canada’s twin passions for politics and hockey, the country’s French-language federal leaders’ debate was pushed forward two hours to avoid clashing with a Montreal Canadiens playoff game.
Originally set for 8 p.m. ET on April 16, the debate now aired from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., giving citizens time to tune in to both events. The move came after concerns from NDP leader Jagmeet Singh and Bloc Québécois’ Yves-François Blanchet, who warned that the hockey game could crush viewership numbers. Their plea worked. Broadcaster Radio-Canada and the Leaders’ Debates Commission agreed, acknowledging the cultural weight hockey carries in Canada.
This isn’t the first time Canada’s election calendar yielded to the Habs. In 2011, the schedule was similarly adjusted to avoid conflict with playoff fever in Montreal.
With Canadians heading to the polls on April 28, the election marks the first in over a decade without Justin Trudeau. Former Bank of England governor Mark Carney now leads the Liberals, facing off against Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre in what’s shaping up to be a tight race.
But not everyone will get their turn on the national stage. The Green Party was abruptly cut from both French and English debates after failing to meet eligibility rules. The party had only nominated candidates in 232 of the 343 ridings, falling short of the required threshold. The exclusion raised concerns over fairness and visibility for smaller parties in a tight electoral race.
For many Canadians, the ability to follow both democracy and the national pastime on the same night was a win-win. After all, when politics and hockey collide, the puck often wins.
