Last chance to sign up Liberal supporters after Halifax debate

Eight Liberal leadership candidates are left vying for the party's top job in Halifax on Sunday in the fourth of five debates after George Takach, the Toronto lawyer who advocated for a digital economy, withdrew from the race on Monday.

Sunday is also the deadline for Liberal leadership hopefuls to sign up new Liberal supporters who will be able to vote for the party's next leader come ballot time.

You can watch the debate on CBC News Network or stream it on CBCNews.ca beginning at 12 p.m. ET.

Takach — who recently wrote on his website that the "last thing the Liberal Party of Canada needs is another coronation" — threw his support behind front-runner Justin Trudeau.

"Justin has the strength to lead a movement that can connect with Canadians from all walks of life, regions and communities," Takach said in a statement.

The eight candidates now vying for the party's top job are MPs Marc Garneau, Justin Trudeau, and Joyce Murray; former MPs Martha Hall Findlay and Martin Cauchon; lawyers Deborah Coyne and David Bertschi; and retired Lt.-Col. Karen McCrimmon.

Earlier this week, Marc Garneau challenged Trudeau to a one-on-one debate saying his fellow contender should have the "courage of his convictions" to debate with him directly.

While he refused to blame the party for the format of the first three debates, Garneau told reporters during a press conference in Ottawa on Monday that Trudeau was "untested" and was hiding behind a "carefully crafted public relations campaign."

Minutes after Garneau finished speaking, Trudeau tweeted: "I respect all the candidates for #LPCLdr. See you in Halifax, Marc [Garneau]. I hear there are 1 on 1s. ;-)".

Martin Cauchon, another candidate from Quebec, told CBC News on Saturday that Garneau went "too far" in calling for a one-on-one with Trudeau. Cauchon said it showed "a lack of respect" towards the other candidates.

The format of Sunday's debate will include both one-on-one exchanges and debates among groups of three.

Topics will include regional development, women's issues, agriculture and rural affairs, health care, job creation, defence, and foreign policy.

Candidates will also be given time to ask questions on any topic of their choosing.

Retired Lt.-Col. McCrimmon and Murray, the Liberal MP from Vancouver, will be the only two candidates to go one-on-one with Trudeau.

Murray was the only candidate in the first debate to challenge Trudeau saying, "if you want to replace Stephen Harper, where's your plan?"

Findlay, Trudeau and Cauchon will get to debate each other in a group of three after the first hour of one-on-one debates.

Findlay apologized to Trudeau for suggesting his privileged background rendered him out of touch with the middle class, after the third debate in Mississauga.

The debate moderator will be Cornwall city councillor and former Liberal candidate Bernadette Clément.

The last debate will be held in Montreal on March 23 with a new party leader announced in Ottawa on April 14.

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