Any feasible path to victory in the federal election for Pierre Poilievre’s Conservative Party runs through the Greater Toronto Area, a region dominated by the Liberals since 2015. 

Fernando Ameth Pinzon has been a Canadian citizen since 2004 but has never voted. After fleeing his native Panama following the U.S. invasion in 1989, life in Canada felt safe and stable. Voting for change seemed unnecessary. Then, U.S. President Donald Trump began threatening Canada’s sovereignty and that of his home country for a second time.

In a special Canada Votes edition of At Issue, Rosemary Barton and the panel discuss who came off best and worst in the French-language leaders’ debate, whether Mark Carney’s French passed muster, and whether Pierre Poilievre succeeded in appearing more prime ministerial.

Liberal Leader Mark Carney, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh all took part in the French-language debate on Wednesday. Here are some key moments.

Liberal Leader Mark Carney faced jabs from his opponents at Wednesday’s French-language leaders’ debate, with accusations he’s out of touch with working people and won’t offer enough change from his unpopular predecessor.