It's official: Canadian election debate rescheduled due to conflict with Montreal Canadiens game

It's official: Canada's Leaders' Debates Commission has rescheduled tomorrow evening's French-language election debate due to a conflict with the Montreal Canadiens game.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh called on the Commission to reschedule the debate for fear that interested viewers would be watching the hockey game, rather than the debate. The Commission agreed and has reportedly moved the debate from 8pm tomorrow night to 6pm and should be wrapped up by the 7pm puck drop at Bell Centre.

"This kind of political discussion shouldn't compete with something that means so much to so many," Singh said in a prepared statement.

Block Quebecois leader Yves-Francois Blanchet agreed and also appeal, successfully, to the Commission. Conservative Leader Pierre Pollievre and Liberal Party Leader Mark Carney have also reportedly agreed with the decision. Green Party Leader Jonathan Pedneault and PPC Leader Maxime Bernier will not be attending the debate.

The Montreal Canadiens are on the brink of securing a playoff spot and Canada needs a moment to take it all in, according to NDP leader Jagmeet Singh.

The Federal NDP leader released a statement earlier today requested that tomorrow night's French-language election debate be rescheduled so as to not conflict with the Montreal Canadiens vs Carolina Hurricanes game.

Singh called for the Leaders' Debates Commission and "all parties concerned" to "find a more appropriate date for the debate."

Singh's fears are that the game will take away interested viewers from the debate and that French Canadians won't be as informed come Election Day (April 28th) as they could be.

"This scheduling conflict gives the impression that the political system is disconnected from reality and will have a significant impact on the number of viewers who will follow the only French-language debate of the campaign," argued Singh in his press release.

Interestingly enough, this exact scenario occurred in 2011 when the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins were set to play Game 1 of their playoff series on the same evening as a planned debate. The Commission ultimately rescheduled the debate in that case and Singh is hopeful that they'll make the same decision this time.

For what it's worth, Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-Francois Blanchet agrees with Singh and the NDP on this matter.

"Let me think about all this in all candor and we'll call the Commission to see what they can tell us," Blanchet said on Radio Canada earlier today, agreeing that a rescheduling is a "good idea."

"I dare to believe that in a democracy, people will understand that the stakes are not the same [as in hockey]," added the Bloc leader.

Still no word from the Commission, but don't be surprised if the debate does in fact get postponed. 

If you needed any further proof of the important of hockey in Canada, here's Exhibit A.