Conservative leadership candidates prep for first official party debate in Edmonton

All six candidates running to be the next leader of the Conservative Party of Canada will gather on an Edmonton stage tonight for the first of two official debates.

And though he missed last week's unofficial sparring in Ottawa so he could sell party memberships, Patrick Brown will take part in tonight's debate.

The Brampton, Ontario mayor's opponents include longtime MP Pierre Poilievre, who Brown recently criticized for offering, ``wacky investment advice'' for saying the cryptocurrency Bitcoin was a solution to inflation.

Tonight, candidates will field questions on topics such as the future of energy, the environment, law and order, the cost of living and the North.

Poilievre also found himself on the defensive last week against fellow MP Leslyn Lewis, who laid into him over the authenticity of his support for those opposing pandemic mandates, as well as his position on social conservative issues.