Four of Canada’s political leaders convened on Thursday for a debate amid an election campaign overshadowed by President Trump’s tariffs and controversial calls for Canada’s annexation.
The candidates characterized Trump’s actions as a crisis for Canada. Prime Minister Mark Carney, recently elected leader of the Liberal Party and a former central banker, faced off against Pierre Poilievre, leader of the Conservative Party, who had previously led in polls ahead of the April 28 federal election. The emergence of Carney in the political arena and the challenges posed by Trump have shifted public sentiment, giving the Liberals a slight polling advantage.
Other participants included Jagmeet Singh of the New Democratic Party and Yves-François Blanchet of the Bloc Québécois, a party focused on Quebec's independence.
Key takeaways from the two-hour debate included a lack of concrete strategies from candidates on how to counter Trump’s influence. All four agreed that Trump’s economic initiatives have resulted in a crisis, yet none detailed specific plans to alter his course, discussing only broad negotiations aimed at asserting Canada’s sovereignty.
Carney highlighted his experience as Governor of the Bank of Canada during the 2008 crisis and as Governor of the Bank of England during Brexit to position himself as a capable negotiator. Poilievre criticized the Liberal government for what he termed a decade of subservience to the United States.
Contentious discussions arose regarding crime policy, with Poilievre advocating for mandatory minimum sentences, including for mass murderers. He proposed a constitutional approach to enact laws previously deemed unconstitutional, a move Carney warned could be “very dangerous.”
The candidates also clashed over public broadcasting funding. Poilievre expressed intentions to cut funding to the English-language services of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) while maintaining support for its French-language service. He suggested transforming the English CBC headquarters into affordable housing. In contrast, Carney pledged to increase funding for the CBC.
Pipeline construction was another debated topic, with Poilievre calling for expedited approval processes to facilitate oil and gas pipelines to Europe, despite opposition from Indigenous groups and various provinces. Carney supported building more pipelines but emphasized the need for a collaborative approval process with provinces and Indigenous stakeholders.
The debate was further influenced by the legacy of former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, with Poilievre criticizing the “lost Liberal decade” under his leadership. Carney sought to differentiate himself from Trudeau, asserting that he represents a new direction for the party.