> DEBATE REACTION

> MITCHELL FAMILY

“I’d be a bit nervous, based on what I’ve been hearing, to vote Liberal,” said Leigh Mitchell, who lives in Etobicoke with her husband, Rob, and their two boys, Ronan and Nevan.

“As a small-business owner, I think the other parties would have better policies to protect small businesses. With the Liberals wanting to invest in the economy, it sounds great in theory but I think it would be difficult to fund.”

> MIKE URBAN

“Mr. Trudeau talks about raising taxes (on the wealthiest one per cent) and running budget deficits. As a business owner I don’t like deficits or raising taxes, but Trudeau is reaching out to people, reaching out to the middle class, and people will walk away from the debate saying ‘wait a second, he was pretty good,’ said Michael Urban, 43, who operates his own automotive business in Oakville.

> MAUREEN DOLAN

“Mr. Mulcair talks about bringing in a $15-an-hour minimum wage for federal workers. I’m making $15 an hour and I’m still struggling. I don’t know if that will benefit a lot of Canadians,” said Maureen Dolan, 38, who does relief work as a cook for a Toronto social service agency that caters to a number of client groups, including the homeless and mentally ill.

> LUCA BROWN

“A sustainable environment for me is really important,” said Luca Brown, 18. He attends a CEGEP in Montreal while working as a cashier at a big-box store. “When Mr. Mulcair talks about finding a way to develop our resources in a way that will be long-term and have minimal effects on the environment, that really speaks to me.”