Leaders’ debate: Affordability and Canadian security top of mind during heated discussion

We’re wrapping up our updates on this page.

For those of you itching to vote before election day — or if you just won’t be in your riding on April 28 — advance polls open tomorrow.

Registered voters can cast their ballots at their designated advance polling station (check your voter registration card) on April 18, 19, 20 and 21 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. If you’re not registered or don’t have your card, check the Elections Canada website for more information.

Pro tip: The agency says the stations are usually busiest between 10 a.m. and noon, so plan accordingly.

If you were able to watch the debate, you probably noticed how much Singh interrupted the other leaders tonight. In a post-debate news conference at his hotel in Montreal, Singh was asked about that strategy and whether he thinks it will pay off for him.

“I’m a scrappy guy, I want to fight for people, I want to fight for the things that I care about,” he said, offering his explanation for talking over his rivals onstage.

“The things that don’t sound right, the things that don’t sit well with me, I want to call them out. I’m ready for a debate, I’m ready for people to challenge me, but I’m also ready to push back on things that don’t sit well with Canadians,” Singh continued.

He also took the opportunity to tell reporters that there are still a “couple important questions that remain” about Carney — namely about his previous work at Brookfield and his plan to balance the operational budget within three years, which Singh claims would require massive cuts to health care.

A spokesperson for the Carney campaign issued a statement saying he “looks forward” to taking questions from reporters tomorrow morning during his press availability. The statement followed the cancellation by the debate commission of tonight’s media availability.

The spokesperson added that Carney “appreciated debating with fellow candidates over the last two days.”

I’m a senior reporter covering the debate in Montreal tonight. After the formal news conferences with leaders were cancelled, there was a question as to whether the party leaders would come out to speak to reporters on their own.

The Liberal, Conservative and Bloc campaigns confirmed to us that their leaders will not take questions tonight, but Singh will take reporter questions outside a hotel in Montreal at 9:45 p.m. ET.

After taking jabs from his opponents all night, Carney ended the debate just as he began the night with a warning to Canadians about Trump, saying: “he’s trying to break us so they can own us.”

“I’ve managed crises over the years. I’ve built strong economies. We will fight back with counter-tariffs. We will protect our workers and those businesses and we will build the strongest economy.”

That line encapsulates Carney’s pitch to voters. As the former governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, Carney claims he’s equipped to take on the biggest threat to Canada’s economy and sovereignty in recent memory.

As the current front-runner in this election, Carney’s goal was to not lose ground to his opponents. None of his opponents appeared to land crushing blows on the Liberal leader, but we’ll see what voters thought of his performance in the coming days as polls are released.

Poilievre wasn't the combative opponent he’s known as being in question periods and news conferences. He appeared gentler and didn't use the "lost Liberal decade" phrase as many times as he does at his rallies, but he did lean in on his pitch for change.

His closing statement featured his childhood story of being born to a single mother and adopted by school teachers "who raised me to believe in the incredible Canadian promise that anyone who worked hard could do anything."

"That promise feels broken today," said Poilievre, who has been appealing in recent weeks to people with lower incomes. "Many of you are worried about paying your bills, feeding your families or ever even owning a home," he said. "I'm here to say: it doesn't have to be this way."

Afterwards, he and Carney had a chat at their lecterns where they seemed convivial, both laughing and smiling before walking off.

After a more combative appearance tonight than in yesterday’s French-language debate, Singh struck a softer tone in his closing statement. He reached back into history to remind viewers of the role the NDP played in introducing universal health care and pensions, and tied those policies to Canadian identity more broadly.

“I am asking for your support in this election so I can continue to fight for the things that make Canada, Canada — the things that we hold dear, the things that make us proud to be Canadian,” he said, naming dental care, pharmacare and subsidized child care as more recent examples.

With the NDP a distant third in the polls, Singh had a lot on the line tonight and it showed. He repeatedly interrupted the other leaders and took opportunities to go hard at Carney and Poilievre. Despite all the interruptions, though, he again had the lowest total speaking time of any leader on stage — just like at the first debate.

And just like last night, he again pitched himself and the New Democrats as the best option to hold the balance of power in a minority government.

We're taking a look back at each of the leader's closing statements tonight.

During his turn, Blanchet spoke in French to remind voters of how Quebecers have resisted Canadian assimilation.

“You have tried to have them become Canadians like all Canadians. But to no avail, we are different,” he said. “So let’s be economic partners. Let’s have a voice chosen by and for Quebecers, an ally for Canadians as equals in front of Mr. Trump.”

His comments reflect the main points he made during both debates: Quebec is distinct and it should have its own seat at the table during negotiations with the U.S., to advocate for its own interests.

If the Bloc were to hold the balance of power, Blanchet said he would mainly ask the federal government to respect Quebec.

“I don’t want to go against what Canada wants to do for itself. But I don’t want Canada to impose an economic vision on Quebec or a multiculturalist vision, which is different in terms of language and values and [secularism] and equality between people,” Blanchet said.

He said he wants to be a “partner” and if Quebec is respected, Canada has “nothing to fear” because Quebec will support what is good for its people.

My colleague Olivia Stefanovich took this photo of the police line outside. There is also caution tape.

There is far more security at tonight’s event than last night amid ramped up tension between journalists and some right-wing media personalities, and mounting frustrations with the organization of the event.

I’m still here with our three undecided voters in our Edmonton newsroom: Trent Daley, Grace Peng and Savannah Stewart. None of them seem swayed by the debate.

Daley said Poilievre wasn’t representing a future he wants to see, while Peng said none of the leaders landed solid moves. Stewart is still feeling unsure about who to support.