OTTAWA: In the first French-language debate on Thursday all candidates tried to win votes in Quebec and incumbent Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faced stiff questions over handling of Covid-19 pandemic during series of face-to-face encounters between two people at a time.
New Democrat Jagmeet Singh, Conservative Erin O’Toole, Yves-François Blanchet of the Bloc Québécois and Liberal Justin Trudeau were on stage at TVA network in Montreal.The Green Party’s Annamie Paul and the Peoples’ Party’s Maxime Bernier weren’t invited to participate.
The event was crucial for leaders, who are expectant to snap up votes before the election September 20.
The TVA debate began with vaccine passports and coronavirus pandemic was the first topic of discussion. Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves Francois-Blanchet questioned Trudeau on his decision for triggering elections amidst imminent fourth wave of virus.
In his response, Trudeau told that it is the high time for his government to make major decisions and Canadians should have the chance to weigh in.
During the debate, O’Toole promised to bolster health transfers to Quebec with $60 million in annual federal funding. Trudeau countered on the topic, with saying that O’Toole’s promise amounts to backing a “two-tiered health system.”
Meanwhile, party leaders interrupted and attacked each others platforms, on various occasions throughout the debate while Blanchet played the role of moderator at times, questioning the other three leaders on their commitment to defending francophone culture and language in Quebec. He also asked other leaders if their candidates got the jab
Trudeau informed that all his candidates are vaccinated expect one due to medical reasons, while Singh confirmed that all New Democrat nominees are vaccinated and similarly Bloc candidates confirmed but O’Toole ducked the question, repeating that Conservatives use rapid tests.
Meanwhile, Liberal Party has promised a total of $78 billion for post-pandemic rebuild to address both long-standing policy problems and new ones to tackle Covid-19 pandemic crisis in Canada.
The sprawling, 53-page platform is different from the Conservative plan, which promises to invest more in Liberal priorities including efforts to fight climate change, Indigenous reconciliation and the arts and cultural sector, ban handguns and some others.
Trudeau forced to defend pandemic election, promises $78 billion for post-pandemic rebuild
