'I've just started as prime minister': Mark Carney on defensive in French leaders' debate | Live English video and discussion
Mark Carney, Pierre Poilievre, Jagmeet Singh and Yves-François Blanchet are facing off in Montreal. Watch the debate live in English and get live analysis
The leaders of Canada’s major federal parties face off tonight in the first nationally televised debate of the 2025 election campaign. The French-language debate, a key opportunity to win over francophone voters, will air Wednesday at 6 p.m. Don’t speak French? No problem. The National Post is livestreaming an English-dubbed version of the debate, below, alongside live discussion and analysis from our Ottawa bureau.
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Canada Election 2025: Federal leaders' French-language debate (English dubbed) LIVE Back to video
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Now shifting to the segment about energy and climate.
Patrice Roy: Do you want Canada to produce more oil, yes or no?
Singh: I would prefer clean investments with public money; Carney: we need low-risk and low-carbon oil; Poilievre answers with a resounding YES.
Blanchet is blasting Carney and Poilievre for their "Harry Potter budgets."
"They want to do magic. They want to spend more money but cut at the same time,” he said of their promise to cut taxes and increase spending while going into a possible recession.
So far, I think Poilievre has been relatively restrained in his attacks, but has been doggedly tying Carney to Justin Trudeau's Liberal government. Carney's response has been, to paraphrase, not my monkeys not my circus.
There's a mild strategic dilemma for Poilievre, because Singh has repeatedly attacked him and Poilievre has pushed back. But Poilievre doesn't want to be attacking Singh, he needs the NDP to be stronger than it is right now to split votes with the Liberals.
Moderator Patrice Roy chided the federal leaders, Mark Carney and Pierre Poilievre in particular, for not having unveiled their costed platforms before the national debates and only days away from the election.
"Is this not -- and I'm measuring my words -- totally irresponsible?"
A view of the leaders above (Left to right: Mark Carney, Yves-François Blanchet, Jagmeet Singh, Pierre Poilievre), and their plans to cut taxes for an average couple and the cost, in millions, below. (Leaders' Debates Commission)
Carney mentioned his promise to set up a new housing entity "Maisons Canada." Here's the little story about how that name came to be...
Carney: "Mr. Poilievre, you are not Justin Trudeau, and neither am I."
Poilievre: "Mr. Carney, you're repeating Justin Trudeau's promises! It's been ten years! You were his economic advisor."
Carney interrupts him: "I was Governor of the Bank of England."
Liberal Leader Mark Carney, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet will take the stage in Montreal for what could be their final chance to win over undecided voters before Canadians cast their ballots on April 28. With polls showing a tight race between the Liberals and Conservatives, the NDP and the Bloc will be battling to put their parties back on the national agenda and we’ll be following every moment live, right here.
Review the live coverage from National Post reporters Catherine Lévesque, Antoine Trépanier, Christopher Nardi, and Ottawa bureau chief Stuart Thomson in our live blog, above, starting at 6 p.m. tonight. Can’t see the blog? View it on the National Post.
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