Leaders argue over affordability plans as campaigns make pitch for votes

The question of who will make life more or less affordable for Canadians hits the federal campaign trail as new figures show the pace of price increases is at its highest in two decades.

The country's headline inflation figure registered an annual increase of 4.1 per cent in August, fuelled by rising demand as more parts of the economy reopened and eased supply-chain constraints for many goods.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh speaking this morning in Essex, Ont., says he's concerned about inflation rates and that bringing down housing prices is one way to address it.

In Halifax an hour later, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau said the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the economy and jacked up prices, but that his platform zeros in on affordability with hefty housing and child-care measures.

Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole is spending his day in Quebec, but released a statement before his first public event saying planned deficits by the Liberals and New Democrats in their platforms wouldn't help ease inflationary pressures.

A poll conducted by Leger in collaboration with The Canadian Press indicated the Liberals and Tories are tied with the support of 32 per cent of decided voters ahead of the election on Monday, with the NDP at 20 per cent.