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Apr 17, 2025 1:00 PM - The Canadian Press

Party leaders face off in English for second federal leaders' debate

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Political strategists said Carney would remain a target during Thursday’s debate after he emerged mostly unscathed from Wednesday’s event. (Photo: The Canadian Press)

The leaders of Canada's four main political parties will square off for a second and final leaders' debate tonight in Montreal, after an initial French-language faceoff on Wednesday.

Liberal Leader Mark Carney, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and the Bloc Québécois' Yves-François Blanchet will meet onstage for a final time before the April 28 vote, after a first debate that saw them spar on pipelines, the economy and U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war.

Carney is leading in the polls and was the frequent target of attacks from his rivals on Wednesday. Poilievre accused Carney throughout the evening of being just like his Liberal predecessor Justin Trudeau, and promised to reverse Liberal economic policies he said had halted resource development and weakened the country. The English-language debate will be moderated by TVO’S Steve Paikin and will be focused on the themes of affordability, energy and climate, leading in a crisis, public safety and security, and tariffs and threats to Canada. Political strategists said Carney would remain a target during Thursday’s debate after he emerged mostly unscathed from Wednesday’s event.

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