“Another Damn Election”

Global – What happened during the federal leaders’ English debate? Here are the highlights

As the man seeking re-election as prime minister, Justin Trudeau has been on the defence throughout the campaign. At the English debate, his feet were held to the fire more than ever.

Trudeau was quickly forced to address his record on combating sexual misconduct in the military (more on that below), which led Green Party Leader Annamie Paul to declare Trudeau is “not a real feminist.”

CBC – Put on defensive in leaders’ debate, Trudeau tries to caution against cynicism

Halfway through a messy two-hour primetime spectacle, Justin Trudeau hit upon a bit of wisdom.

“One of the enemies of progressive politics,” he said, “is cynicism.”

Unfortunately for the Liberal leader, the other candidates on stage at the Museum of History on Thursday — Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-Francois Blanchet and Green leader Annamie Paul to his right, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh and Conservative leader Erin O’Toole to his left — spent much of the night insisting there were very good reasons to feel cynical about him.

NatPo – ‘The worst track record in all the G7’: Trudeau under heavy fire at final debate before election

OTTAWA — Thursday night’s leaders debate had barely started when Liberal leader Justin Trudeau came under heavy fire — first from Green Party leader Annamie Paul hammering him as not a “real feminist,” then from Conservative leader Erin O’Toole accusing him of putting his own political fortunes ahead of the wellbeing of Canada’s Afghan allies.

Globe – English-language leaders’ debate: Justin Trudeau put on defensive over early election call, foreign policy

Justin Trudeau’s handling of sexual harassment in the military, of the crisis in Afghanistan and of relations with China was heavily attacked in the final leaders’ debate of the election campaign, as the Liberal Leader defended his record on the world stage and said he would move “harder and faster” to tackle climate change if re-elected.

The Liberal Party … er Star – Debating leaders each go for the throat — and come away bloodied

Trudeau was challenged on his snap election call, and on his feminist credentials, prompting Green Leader Annamie Paul to name the women ousted from his cabinet.

Trudeau’s four rivals leapt to criticize his handling of Afghanistan, China, Huawei, the pandemic and reconciliation.

CTV – Key takeaways, notable exchanges from the 2021 federal leaders’ debate

The debate saw Paul dodge a question about her position on vaccine mandates, O’Toole insist he is “driving the bus” when it comes to the social conservative members of his caucus, Blanchet lament the time he had to speak, Singh deflect from questions over his missing platform costing, and Trudeau on the defensive over his track record.

The Guardian – Canada election: rivals force Justin Trudeau on to defensive in leaders’ debate

Justin Trudeau has been forced to defend his government’s plans for fighting climate change, Canada’s fractured relationship with Indigenous peoples and a growing affordability crisis in the country as the prime minister faced off with contenders ahead of the federal election.

For two hours on Thursday evening, federal party leaders from the Liberal, Conservative, New Democratic, Green and Bloc Québécois parties sparred in the only official English-language debate before the 20 September vote. Party leaders debated in French on Wednesday evening.

Trudeau, who has been prime minister for six years, has been on the defensive after calling an election during the fourth wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

BBC – Canada federal election: Key takeaways from the debate

The English-language TV debate is usually the most widely watched political sparring match on Canada’s federal campaign election calendar.

It comes this time just ahead of the opening of advanced polls and less than two weeks before the 20 September election day.

Opinion polls suggest Justin Trudeau’s centre-left Liberals are tied in first place with the centre-right Conservatives, the main opposition party.

London Times – Rivals lambast Justin Trudeau in Canadian election debate

Justin Trudeau came under fierce attack from his political rivals in Canada’s final election debate last night as leaders on the left and right tried to woo his voters before they go to the polls this month.

The only televised English-language debate of the campaign is the most widely watched political event of Canada’s election calendar and an opportunity for party leaders to win over swing voters. Despite having a lead of five points when he called the snap election last month to regain the majority he lost in 2019, the Canadian prime minister’s Liberal Party is now two points behind Erin O’Toole’s Conservatives, and fighting to save his political career after six years in power.

Sun – Trudeau loses, O’Toole and Singh will keep taking his support

There are rarely decisive moments in Canadian political debates, the idea of a knockout punch being something that lives larger in the minds of media pundits than it does in reality. With five leaders on the stage, the chance for that one moment that defines the debate and the campaign is unlikely to happen.

Trudeau lost. That’s a good thing. This has turned into a turf Trudeau election. Only a willfully blind minority and the usual cast of predatory government teat suckers still support the deceitful hypocrite. The bad news is that the parasite political class is large enough to secure a minority for their dummy.