Welcome to Campaign Countdown, which is devoted to covering everything about the federal election — from nomination races to candidate announcements to the latest polling. With less than two weeks until Canadians go to the polls, we’ll be keeping track of everything you need to know.

Campaign Digest

• After facing off en français last night, the four main contenders vying for the chance to serve as prime minister are set for their second showdown tonight — this time, in English, with TVO anchor Steve Paikin in the moderator’s chair. (7 p.m.)
• The “main editorial themes” for tonight will be similar, although not identical, to those on deck during last night’s go-round in French: Affordability and the cost of living, energy and climate, leading in a crisis, public safety and security, and tariffs and threats to Canada
• As promised, the Green Party has released its official election platform, which, as per the press release, is “for everyone who has been pushed to the margins, sidelined, underestimated, or ignored—and who are done with the status quo,” as well as “people who are organizing, showing up, and demanding more social justice.
• During a campaign stop in Montreal on Thursday, Liberal leader Mark Carney was asked whether he still felt there was value in the leaders’ debate commission: “I think there’s value in having an independent body that sets the rule for the debate and prosecutes them,” said Carney. “Some of the decisions I’m sure will be called into question, but I don’t think it’s for the political leaders to be making those determinations. It’s for the beneficiaries of the debates, which are the Canadian people.”
• Though Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre isn’t expected to go before the cameras until the leaders’ debate, Tory MP Chris Warkentin spent the day in Yellowknife, N.W.T., where he unveiled the second part of his party’s “Canada First Arctic Defence Plan.” The proposal includes the construction of a new naval base in Churchill, Man., as well as the procurement of a new fleet of surveillance aircrafts.
• Bloc Québécois chef Yves-François Blanchet was booked in for a chat with Radio-Canada host Patrick Masbourian.
• “Political strategists said Wednesday that no single party leader was able to punch through and disrupt the election’s status quo in Wednesday’s French leaders debate, allowing rookie Liberal Leader Mark Carney to emerge mostly unscathed,” Canadian Press noted last night. “That leaves the race largely unchanged as all eyes turn to Thursday night’s English language debate. Expert observers say they’ll be watching to see if Carney trips up or if Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, whose party is now trailing in the polls, decides to take more risks and a more aggressive stance.”