The debate ended without a clear winner and without any decisive moments for the four leaders who appeared on camera.

On Thursday, threats from U.S. President Donald Trump and inflation took center stage in the second debate between Canada’s main political leaders ahead of the April 28 elections.

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The debate ended without a clear winner and without any decisive moments for the four leaders who appeared on camera: Mark Carney, Prime Minister and head of the Liberal Party; Pierre Poilievre, of the Conservative Party (CPC); Yves-François Blanchet, of the sovereigntist Bloc Quebecois (BQ); and Jagmeet Singh, of the social-democratic New Democratic Party (NDP).

Carney, who leads in the polls and appears poised to secure the biggest victory in Liberal Party history, successfully and easily fended off constant attacks from the other three leaders, especially Poilievre.

He presented himself as the best prepared to face Trump in the renegotiation of the relationship with the United States—set to begin as soon as the elections are held—and to steer the country’s economy through the turbulent period looming on the horizon due to the White House’s radical trade policies.

The Conservative leader, who in February had a 25-point lead in the polls and seemed destined to crush the Liberals until Justin Trudeau resigned as Prime Minister, repeated his failed strategy of equating Carney with his predecessor.

Carney, an economist who served as governor of the Bank of Canada (2008–2013) and the Bank of England (2013–2020), and who became Prime Minister on March 14, easily neutralized Poilievre’s tactic.

“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I know you wish you were running against Justin Trudeau. Justin Trudeau is not here,” the Liberal leader responded.

Poilievre, for his part, improved on his performance from Wednesday’s French-language debate, especially on issues of security and in portraying Carney as a continuation of nearly a decade of Liberal governments under Trudeau. “You don’t represent change,” the Conservative snapped at Carney.

Poilievre, who for years has employed tactics borrowed from Trumpism and aligned himself with ultraconservative groups, toned down his attacks and insults in an effort to project a more professional image.

The other two leaders, sovereigntist Blanchet and social democrat Singh, played more of a supporting role, but also joined in attacking Carney. After all, the Liberal’s lead in the polls is due in part to the support he is drawing from both sovereigntist and social democratic voters.

On Thursday, the daily poll published by Nanos Research placed the Liberal Party at 43.5% in voting intention, compared to 38.8% for the CPC, 8.7% for the NDP, and 5.6% for the BQ.

An analysis by Canada’s public broadcaster CBC projects an absolute majority for the Liberals, with 196 seats, 121 for the Conservative Party, 20 for the Bloc Quebecois, and 5 for the NDP.

The controversy of the day stemmed from the decision by the commission organizing the debates to cancel the leaders’ post-broadcast press conferences, as is traditionally done. The controversial decision followed Wednesday’s French-language debate, when far-right activists—who publish blogs and had been accredited to attend—monopolized the press conferences with questions laced with misinformation.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: EFE

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