India, April 16 -- With Canada's Federal election 12 days away, the two official debates on Wednesday and Thursday will prove a crucial platform for Liberal Party leader Mark Carney and his principal rival, Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre.

The French-language debate will be held on Wednesday evening. The English-language version will follow the day after, just a day before early voting begins in the country for the April 28 election.

While the ruling party remains in position to form a majority government, polls have tightened in recent days. And that will provide an opportunity to the Conservative in testing Carney on a public platform, over the two-hour long debates.

"Debates are widely anticipated as they represent the fe...