The last official debate before the federal election started with a segment on the world’s ongoing climate emergency before descending into a heated exchange on Quebec’s controversial religious symbols law. 

“Obviously, we received a lot of questions about this,” moderator Patrice Roy said Bill 21, which bans religious symbols in the public service.  The law is broadly popular in Quebec, but has been widely criticized as discriminatory. 

“I don’t know what the people of Quebec would do” if the federal government fought the law, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet said, prompting Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer to accuse him working toward restoring Quebec separatism. 

“Stop squabbling, please!”  Green party Leader Elizabeth May interjected. 

On the environment, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau continued his tactic of attacking provincial conservative leaders as a proxy for Scheer, naming the premiers of Ontario and Alberta twice each within the first 15 minutes of the debate. 

“We need to stand up to conservatives like Jason Kenney and Doug Ford and the oil barons that are supporting them,” Trudeau said. 

He continued attacking Scheer on the economy in an at-times chaotic three-way debate segment with the Conservative leader and far-right People’s Party of Canada leader Maxime Bernier. “ They’re going to cut, we’re going to invest,” Trudeau said. 

“Liar,” Scheer said, invoking the SNC-Lavalin scandal. “ You lied... you lied.” 

In a segment on immigration, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh invoked U.S. President Donald Trump to harshly criticize Trudeau on his record dealing with the flow of migrants at the Quebec border with the U.S.

“You don’t have the courage to condemn someone like Trump, who is putting children behind bars,” Singh told the Liberal leader. “ Why do you not have the courage to suspend the Safe Third Country Agreement?” 

After being prompted by the moderator that he was not answering that question, Trudeau eventually responded: “We are continuing to work with the Americans,” he said. 

The Liberals have no current plans to intervene against Bill 21, but “it would be irresponsible” to rule out doing so at a later stage, Trudeau said. “ There is a possibility the federal government might have to intervene.” 

In a segment on foreign policy, Trudeau repeated his criticism of China, saying it has acted “arbitrarily” in detaining two Canadians. 

On Indigenous issues, May slammed Trudeau over his government’s decision to appeal a recent human rights tribunal ruling — “you are trying to overturn a ruling in favour of Indigenous children,” she said, “that’s a scandal.” 

The debate ended after two hours with Roy applauding the leaders over a less chaotic debate than on Monday. “ Overall you were relatively disciplined, thank you,” he said. 

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A replay of the debate will be available in the following languages and formats:

Ed Tubb is an assignment editor and a contributor to the Star’s coverage of the 2019 federal election.  He is based in Toronto.  Follow him on Twitter: @edtubb

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