Trudeau clashes with Tory rival in first Canada debate
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appeared for his first debate of the 2019 election on Wednesday, clashing with his main rival Andrew Scheer of the Conservative Party just three weeks ahead of the knife-edge vote.
They sparred in French over heady topics such as laicism, abortion, doctor-assisted dying, decriminalizing narcotics, and gay marriage, as well as vote movers climate change and the economy.
Both were looking to sway votes in the key battleground of Quebec, where one quarter of the 338 seats in parliament are up for grabs.
Going toe-to-toe with Scheer as well as fielding attacks in open floor exchanges from New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh and Yves-Francois Blanchet of the Bloc Quebecois, Trudeau was animated in defending his first-term record.
Scheer, who is untested and less comfortable speaking in French than English, needed to show Canadians that he’s ready to be prime minister.
But at times, he seemed like a wallflower.
Scheer dodged questions on his personal views on abortion, and was criticized for expecting other nations to take the bulk of climate actions, while promising to roll back a Liberal carbon tax.
“The Conservatives are struggling with the fact that their values do not align with the progressivism of Canadians,” Trudeau said.
The incumbent prime minister blasted provincial Tory leaders for going to court against a federal carbon tax, saying “Andrew Scheer is not going to stand up to them,” while touting a Liberal pledge to plant two billion trees over the next four years.
However he faced criticism from Singh for having nationalized an oil pipeline.
Comments