No real ‘knock out punches’ in final debate of federal election campaign
Posted October 11, 2019 6:00 am.
GATINEAU, Que. – The six federal party leaders have squared off in the final debate of the election campaign.
The previous two debates have been described as yelling matches, but this one was much more tame. That doesn’t mean there weren’t a few clashes, though.
The two frontrunners, Liberal Justin Trudeau and Conservative Andrew Scheer, went head-to-head on a number of issues, while both took aim at Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, whose party is surging in Quebec and threatening both their chances to form a majority government.
Scheer, Bernier and Trudeau clashed over whether or not we should continue deficit spending. Trudeau argues the deficits are not irresponsible because it's an investment in economy/Canadians. Scheer & Bernier arguing it is reckless & Liberals are taxing too much #elxn43 #cdnpoli
— Cormac Mac Sweeney (@cmaconthehill) October 11, 2019
The leaders debated a range of topics, including assisted dying, immigration, deficit spending, Quebec’s controversial Bill 21, and pipelines.
Now on to the controversial Bill 21. Singh says he would try to convince Quebec to be more accepting. Trudeau says the federal government may have to intervene and he is not shutting the door. Bernier says the feds should stay out of Quebec's business #elxn43 #cdnpoli
— Cormac Mac Sweeney (@cmaconthehill) October 11, 2019
Trudeau was forced to defend his record on climate change against Green Leader Elizabeth May and the NDP’s Jagmeet Singh. The environment came out as one of the biggest topics of the night.
Stephanie Plante, a political researcher with the University of Ottawa, says most of the leaders stood their ground and got their messages across, but there was no real knock out punch.
“And that’s OK, because this was just a debate more full of chops and more full of substantive policy questions,” she says, adding she doesn’t believe this will cause any big shift in the campaign. “Generally, debates don’t really move the needle that much.”
Advanced polls open on Friday, with little more than a week to go before the general election.
