Six candidates competing for the leadership of the Canadian Conservative Party will meet tonight in the first two official debates.

The candidates will present questions on topics such as the future of energy, the environment, law and order, and the cost of living.

This discussion will include Patrick Brown, Mayor of Brampton, and among his opponents is MP Pierre Poilievre, whom Brown recently criticized for giving what he called "foolish investment advice" by saying that the cryptocurrency Bitcoin was a solution to inflation.

Poilievre also found himself on the defensive last week against his parliamentary colleague Leslyn Lewis, who focused on questioning him about the credibility of his support for those opposing pandemic mandates, as well as his stance on conservative social issues.

Lewis, who opposes abortion, ranked third in the 2020 party leadership race and again enjoys significant support from groups that believe in restricting access to the procedure.

This issue has resurfaced in light of a recently leaked draft opinion from the United States Supreme Court, which suggests it may overturn a national law protecting abortion rights in that country.

Before Wednesday's discussion, federal Liberal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos was expected to announce funding related to abortion.

Also appearing on stage will be former Quebec Premier Jean Charest, who launched his campaign in Calgary in March, portraying himself as the serious national leader the party needs to defeat Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Ed Fast, who is participating in the leadership race, recently described Charest as weak in the race because he has been out of federal politics for nearly 25 years.

Among others who have declared themselves are Roman Baber, the independent MP for Ontario, who was expelled by Doug Ford from his Progressive Conservative caucus in early 2021 for opposing provincial lockdowns imposed to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Before Wednesday's event, Baber issued a statement announcing he would halt Equalization, a program that sees federal revenues given to provinces with below-average financial capacity to pay for services and is highly unpopular with conservatives in Alberta.

He also pledged to give Canadians an income tax reduction, and during last week's debate, Ontario MP Scott Aitchison called on his fellow candidates to improve their behavior, saying their personal attacks against each other are neither in their own nor their voters’ best interests.