Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney faced a sustained attack from conservative rivals during Thursday’s election debate, but the liberal leader tried to focus his attention on what he calls Canada’s top threat: US President Donald Trump.
Most polls show Pierre Poilierve’s Conservatives following Carney’s Liberal Party ahead of the April 28 vote against Canada’s federal government.
However, the race remained close, and Poilierbre has worked hard in the English debate to curb liberal momentum since Carney replaced Justin Trudeau on March 14th. They also discussed Wednesday night in French, Canada’s other official language.
Trump’s trade war and threat of annexation have sparked widespread rage across Canada, with criticism that Tory leaders have turned their rage completely against the liberals instead of attacking Washington.
As the campaign evolves, Poirierbre is increasingly trying to do both. While denounced Trump for criticizing Trump, he accuses Trudeau of weakening the economy and making Canada vulnerable to hostile US policies during a decade of power.
He continued his strategy in debate on Thursday, accusing the Liberals of “giving Donald Trump and the United States a near monopoly over our energy.”
Poilliebre, 45, who has served in Congress for 20 years, has consistently sought to brand Carney as an extension of Trudeau. “The question you have to ask is, after a decade of liberal promises, can you afford food? Is your home more affordable than before?” asked Poilierbre.
“How can I trust you? [Carney] Is it different from the last decade of the liberal government? “Poilierble added repeatedly that Carney served as “Justin Trudeau’s economic advisor.”
Speaking to the conservative leader, Carney said:
All night, Carney tried to draw attention to Trump.
“The biggest risk we have to this economy is Donald Trump,” said the 60-year-old former central banker.
Trump is “trying to break us so he can own us,” he added.
“We’re all going to stand up to Donald Trump. We’re ready.”
Carney also fired from two other party leaders on stage, Yves François Blanchett, head of the left-wing New Democrats and leader of Quebec’s separatist Brock Quebecois.
Both have hit Carney over the years in the private sector, including Canada’s leading corporation Brookfield, questioning whether Liberal leaders would defend workers who were given his background.
Carney spent the early parts of his career as an investment banker with Goldman Sachs.
Carney refuted that his private sector experience would help him in government, but rejected the proposal that his loyalty had been split.
“I’m by the Canadian side,” he said.
On January 6th, the Liberals lowered conservatives 24 points on the day Trudeau said he would resign, according to voter rallies for public broadcaster CBC.
On Thursday, CBC Data brought liberal support to 43.3% and gave the Conservatives 38% support.
