FINAL FACEOFF FOR LEADERS
Tempers flare at French debate
CLIMATE, PIPELINES AT FORE AS LEADERS SEEK BOOST IN FINAL DEBATE
Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau appealed to francophones concerned about climate change to elect a Liberal government “full of Quebecers” and defeat the Conservatives during the final debate of the election campaign, in an attempt to beat back a surging Bloc Québécois that could threaten a Liberal majority.
The debate, which took place in Gatineau, Que., on Thursday evening, was the second French-language debate of the campaign. The only English-language debate featuring Trudeau took place on Monday.
Thursday’s debate was a far cry from Monday’s, which was dominated by personal attacks and crosstalk. The leaders were in general much better behaved on Thursday, though Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer and Trudeau did exchange barbs.
Climate change and pipelines dominated the first part of the debate, with Trudeau claiming that his government “has done more already than any other government in the history of the country to protect the environment and fight climate change.” He took aim at Scheer, urging voters to cast their ballots for the Liberals and avoid a government of “Conservatives who want to do nothing.” But he also targeted Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, who is positioning his party as the only one that will defend Quebec’s environmental values.
“What we saw in 2015 is that Quebecers chose to be part of the government, and that’s what ended 10 years of (former prime minister Stephen) Harper,” he said. “And now that the Bloc wants to regain a place and consign Quebecers once more to opposition, Quebecers have to reflect very clearly. Do they want to be part of a government that will continue to fight climate change, to work hand-in-hand with Quebecers on common priorities? That’s exactly what we’ve been doing for four years, and it’s what we will continue to do.”
However, Trudeau also took heat on his environmental platform, when he was asked whether a Liberal government could impose a pipeline on Quebec. Though Trudeau didn’t give a decisive answer, he did say a pipeline through Quebec would be preferable to transporting more oil by rail.
Throughout the campaign, Scheer has received criticism in Quebec for his proposed national energy corridor, which would transport oil, gas and other natural resources across the country. The project is unpopular in Quebec. People’s Party Leader Maxime Bernier also supports a new pipeline through Quebec.
But Trudeau’s equivocation gave NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh a chance to paint his opponents with the same brush. “I think I can sum up the situation,” he said. “For the viewers, here is Mr. Pipeline, here is Mr. Pipeline again, and Mr. Trudeau I think is also Mr. Pipeline. I am Jagmeet Singh. I will never impose a pipeline on Quebec.”
Scheer attacked Trudeau repeatedly, at one point using an exchange on the Liberals’ fiscal record to criticize his handling of the SNC-Lavalin controversy, calling him a “compulsive liar.” During a section on foreign affairs, Scheer mocked Trudeau for his disastrous trip to India in 2018.
Singh and Green party Leader Elizabeth May took aim at Trudeau over his record on Indigenous issues, particularly the Liberal government’s recent decision to appeal a ruling from the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ordering the government to compensate Indigenous children discriminated against by the child welfare system.
But Trudeau, Scheer and Singh all turned their sights on Blanchet as well, as all three parties are losing ground to the Bloc in Quebec. Scheer accused Blanchet of hypocrisy for aligning himself with Quebec’s right-leaning CAQ government, a change for a party traditionally linked to the sovereigntist Parti Québécois. The Conservatives had hoped to benefit from the popularity of Premier François Legault’s government, but nationalist voters seem to be flocking to the Bloc instead.
“You pretend to be Legault’s best friend, but be honest. After the election, what party are you going to work for?” he asked, suggesting Blanchet’s allegiance remains with the Parti Québécois.
Earlier Thursday, Blanchet had to apologize for four of his candidates who have previously made comments or shared articles on social media attacking Islam. The posts were revealed by the Journal de Montréal. “I was very unhappy about this, I asked for apologies from the candidates and none of them hesitated to apologize,” Blanchet told reporters ahead of the debate. He has not asked the four candidates to step down.
The Bloc’s surge in Quebec is increasing the likelihood of a minority government, as the Liberals and Conservatives have both counted on picking up seats in the province.