Trudeau, O'Toole Surprisingly Restrained in French-Language Leaders’ Debate

(L-R) Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, Green Leader Annamie Paul, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, and Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet stand at their podiums before the French-language leaders' debate on Sept. 8, 2021, in Gatineau, Que. The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld

Commentary

With polls indicating such a close race in the federal election, Erin O'Toole and Justin Trudeau both were surprisingly restrained in the second of the French-language election debates. Neither leader dropped any new policy stances and they stuck pretty closely to their talking points. They were more concerned with staying safe than with trying to score some sort of knockout blow in hopes of moving the needle of support.