Live blog: Leaders square off in French-language debate – iPolitics

Good morning, iPolitics readers.

Welcome to our debate live blog, where we will be running down all the events from tonight’s French-language debate.

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8 p.m.

The leaders field a question about the lack of women on the stage, and after an exchange, wrap up the debate. Thanks for joining us.

Poilievre is saying he will protect women rights, including abortion. Singh says the NDP put forward free birth control, will alwahs protect women. Carney says it is important to protect womens rights, and everyone’s rights, takes aim at Poilievre’s proposition of using the +

— Barbara Patrocinio (@BarbaraPatroci) April 17, 2025

7:54 p.m.

Poilievre says Canada is not really united, people should focus on core values, repeats his campaign slogan.
Singh says he sees union when he travels around the province.
Carney says he believes that in this moment Canadians want to be united.

— Barbara Patrocinio (@BarbaraPatroci) April 16, 2025

7:42 p.m.

Blanchet says he wants Quebec to be at the negotiating table on how to respond to the threat of U.S. tariffs, arguing that Carney has rushed ahead and propped up the auto sector without consulting Quebec. Blanchet suggests the feds are making decisions about Quebec’s industries with no consultation.

7:37 p.m.

Carney pressed by Singh on why he won’t call what’s happening in Gaza a genocide. Carney says he won’t politicize the conflict, but Singh says it’s about accurately labelling what’s happening.

7:26 p.m.

Carney says Canada’s recent immigration growth has been unsustainable, and a temporary cap is needed. But he says Canadians and Quebecers want to welcome newcomers — they’re just needs to be sufficient capacity to do so.

7:22 p.m.

On immigration: Interesting to see some agreement. Carney says Canada cannot accept everyone, and his government would send back refugees.
Poilievre says the same.

— Barbara Patrocinio (@BarbaraPatroci) April 16, 2025

7:16 p.m.

Carney says global warming is still a priority for the Liberals. Says the carbon tax will target big manufacturers/producers. Poilievre sort of dodges the question, says something about having a pragmatic approach, using natural gas.

7:11 p.m.

On pipelines: Poilievre says that they’re crucial to make Canada a sovereign state and bureaucracy raises the cost of building. Asked what he would do if there is opposition from Indigenous population: he says he will focus on what the majority wants.

7:03 p.m.

Carney says global warming is still a priority for the Liberals.
Says the carbon tax will target big manufacturers/producers.

PP sort of dodges the question, says something about having a pragmatic approach, using natural gas.

— Barbara Patrocinio (@BarbaraPatroci) April 16, 2025

6:58 p.m.

Poilievre says we need more oil production but the other parties passed an “unconstitutional” law that made it next to impossible to build new pipelines, while Blanchet slams Carney or Poilievre for being so eager to produce more oil in the face of the climate crisis.

6:55 p.m.

Do you want Canada to increase oil production?

Singh says let’s invest in renewable energy, including a renewable national grid, but doesn’t answer if we should increase or decrease production.

Carney says we need to increase it to reduce our imports from other countries. He says we need more low-cost, low-risk and low-carbon oil.

6:52 p.m.

On federal programs for health services:

Carney says the priority for the government is to invest and strenghten the economy to create jobs (?) while Singh says it is necessary to increase expenditures in health, work together with the provinces, and PP says +

— Barbara Patrocinio (@BarbaraPatroci) April 16, 2025

6:50 p.m.

Singh attacks Carney for his pledge to balance the country’s operational budget, saying it will lead to cuts to transfers to the provinces and territories, including for health.

Carney disagrees, and when asked about his approach to transfers, he says there will be no new programs.

Blanchet says the feds take in more money than they need and should be giving more money to the provinces.

6:45 p.m.

Carney says his costed platform is coming on the weekend.
Poilievre says his is coming “soon”.

— Barbara Patrocinio (@BarbaraPatroci) April 16, 2025

6:35 p.m.

Moving to housing, Blanchet says we need to invest in social and affordable housing, while Poilievre promises a series of tax cuts — including removing the GST on new builds — and incentivizing municipalities to remove regulatory restrictions on home construction.

Carney also touts his proposed tax cut, removing the GST on new builds for first-time homebuyers and plan to double the pace of construction of housing.

Singh says the NDP would put price caps on groceries and ban corporate landlords for buying up affordable housing units.

6:28 p.m.

Question on what’s being proposed to help Canadian workers impacted by the trade war. Carney says there would be supports there for workers, including investing in training aid for those laid off. Poilievre vows to support workers and unleash Canada’s resource sector.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh says he’d create a law that would require car manufacturers to build plants in Canada if they want to sell cars here.

Bloc Leader Blanchet says we need a COVID-style support system that would keep laid-off workers tethered to their employer.

6:22 p.m. 

Pierre Poilievre says he will put Canada first, and never compromise Canada’s interests.

He said we can’t control Trump’s decisions but we can control our economy.#cdnpoli

— Barbara Patrocinio (@BarbaraPatroci) April 16, 2025

6:18 p.m.

In a feisty exchange, Poilievre says Carney will end up raising taxes as Liberals always do, but Carney rebuts that he’s only been on the job for a month. Poilievre responds that he’s been Trudeau’s economic advisor for years.

6:15 p.m. 

On negotiating with Trump, Carney says he agrees with NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh that we need to start talks on what’s not on the table — the French language, Quebec’s unique institutions and our resources.

Bloc Leader Yves-François Blanchet says Carney hasn’t sought to build bridges and hasn’t proven that he’s best suited to deal with Trump.

Poilievre called on Carney to scrap a Trudeau-era law that he has said has blocked pipeline development.

6:10 p.m.

Next question is on dealing with U.S. President Donald Trump. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says he will look to start negotiations to accelerate a new trade deal on day one, arguing that we can’t control Trump but need to reverse course on failed Liberal policies that have hurt Canadians.

Liberal Leader Mark Carney says we need to respond to Trump with strength, and Canada needs to bolster its economy and create partnerships with other countries.

6:03 p.m.

First up is a question on what the leaders are promising to improve the lives of Canadians that has nothing to do with Americans. Liberal Leader Mark Carney starts by vowing to speed up housing construction and supporting Canada’s cultural institutions.

6 p.m.

A little over three weeks after hitting the campaign trail, the leaders of the five major parties will converge on a Montreal soundstage for the opening round of two high-stakes debates, with the first faceoff set to take place entirely en français, two hours earlier than expected after a last-minute scheduling change to “minimize a conflict with a Montreal Canadiens hockey game,” as Canadian Press reports. (6 p.m.)

As per the programming note sent out earlier this week, the two-hour session — which will be broadcast live and ad-free, and is expected to air on virtually every Canadian network —  will be moderated by Radio-Canada news anchor Patrice Roy, with an “emphasis on open debate” on “five main editorial themes” — namely, “(the) cost of living, energy and climate, trade war, identity and sovereignty and immigration and foreign affairs,” although not necessarily in that order.