Carney skipping unofficial debates, say rival campaigns

While official debates in the Liberal leadership race are set for Monday and Tuesday, some of the candidates say they've been open to facing off in other arenas.

But sources working on rival campaigns say perceived front-runner Mark Carney has stayed away when invited to take part.

On Wednesday, the National Women's Liberal Commission held an all-candidates debate, where Carney's absence was noted. The event was not open to the public.

"You were missed at the National Women's Liberal Commission debate tonight," former Liberal MP Ruby Dhalla, who was disqualified from the leadership race on Friday, wrote in a social media post directed at Carney.

"If you want the job, dodging debates isn't the right path for leadership."

The forum allowed candidates to attend virtually. That night, Carney, a former central banker, held a meet-and-greet with Liberal supporters in Toronto.

Carney's camp said he sent the commission his regrets and is open to meeting with them later.

Sources close to former finance minister Chrystia Freeland's campaign said they also received invitations for debates hosted by the Canadian Club and the Young Liberals of Canada. A source on Dhalla's team also confirmed the invitations. 

Liberal sources, who did not want their names disclosed, said those debates are not going ahead because Carney is not participating. 

Carney's team said the initial date proposed by the Canadian Club didn't work. They said they did receive an invitation from the youth wing and heard there is an issue securing a venue.

The Young Liberals did not respond to a CBC News request for comment. 

There is no obligation for candidates to participate in the unofficial debates. They are an opportunity for candidates to put themselves before Liberal members, who will ultimately vote for who they want to be the next leader on March 9.

Carney's debating chops will be put to the test in both languages next week when he and the other four candidates face off.

Besides Carney and Freeland, former House leader Karina Gould and former MP Frank Baylis have cleared the necessary hurdles to secure a spot on the stage.

"Frank Baylis has accepted nearly every invitation he's received, including the National Women's Liberal Commission debate that took place this week," said Justine McIntyre, a spokesperson for his campaign.

"He is eager to debate and to share his ideas with as many Liberals and supporters as possible."

Former TVA-Québec anchor Pierre Jobin will moderate the French leadership debate in Montreal on Monday. Former CBC News host Hannah Thibedeau will moderate the English debate the next night. 

Recent fundraising figures and endorsements suggest Carney is the man to beat in the race. 

Liberal leadership fundraising numbers posted by Elections Canada this week show Carney hauled in $1.9 million from 11,260 contributors. The filing period was from Jan. 10 to Feb. 9, so those numbers are not up to date. 

They far exceed the official fundraising figures for Freeland's team, according to Elections Canada's public disclosures. 

Those filings show Freeland as having raised $226,661 — however, her team says the real figure is closer to $600,000.

In a statement earlier this week, the campaign said the "data doesn't tell the whole story. Campaigns could either receive donations directly or let the Liberal Party hold on to them."

Carney has also picked up the majority of caucus and cabinet support. Earlier this week, Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc, once believed to have wanted the top job, endorsed the former Bank of Canada governor.