Trump Takes Center Stage as Canadian Leaders Clash in French-Language Election Debate

Canada’s federal election campaign took a heated turn Wednesday night as leaders of the country’s four main political parties faced off in a French-language debate dominated by questions about U.S. President Donald Trump, trade tensions, and the future of Canada’s economy.

The debate, held at CBC/Radio-Canada’s Montreal studios, was the first of two official election debates ahead of the April 28 vote. Moderated by journalist Patrice Roy, the event focused heavily on Quebec, a province rich in parliamentary seats and vital to any party’s path to power.

Early in the evening, Roy acknowledged what many Canadians were already thinking: the short 36-day election campaign had been “hijacked by Trump.” Though leaders were first asked to name two campaign promises unrelated to U.S. relations, the conversation quickly shifted to the escalating trade war that’s seen Trump slap 25% tariffs on Canadian goods, excluding only those protected by the USMCA trade pact.

Liberal Leader and current Prime Minister Mark Carney, in his debate debut, highlighted his credentials as a former central banker for both Canada and the UK, claiming Trump “respects people who understand the world and how the private sector works.” Carney, whose French proficiency lagged behind his rivals, kept many of his answers short but firm, defending his party’s leadership while trying to distance himself from the legacy of former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre attacked the Liberals’ economic record, accusing them of making Canada more vulnerable to foreign threats. He positioned himself as the only leader willing to dismantle red tape, lower taxes, and empower industry, especially in the housing and energy sectors. “We don’t need more bureaucracy—we need more front doors,” Poilievre said, vowing to address Canada’s housing affordability crisis.

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NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh offered a contrasting vision, arguing that both Poilievre and Carney were beholden to the wealthy and out of touch with working Canadians. “Both will cut taxes for millionaires and billionaires,” Singh said, while pushing for more support for families affected by job losses tied to U.S. tariffs.

Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet focused on defending Quebec’s distinct interests, warning that replacing Trudeau with Carney would not erase the Liberals’ policy legacy. “It’s not because you change the leader that you change your philosophy,” Blanchet said.

The second and final debate—this time in English—is set for Thursday, offering party leaders one last high-stakes opportunity to make their pitch to the broader Canadian public before election day.