Carney attacked for wanting ‘free ride,’ ‘hiding’ from public amid latest campaign break [Video]

Two federal party leaders took aim Saturday at Mark Carney, whom polls suggest is the front-runner in the April 28 election, for once again skipping the campaign trail.

Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet accused the Liberal leader of trying to capitalize on his early momentum by coasting through the opening three weeks of the campaign.

“I believe that Mr. Carney is trying to get a free ride,” he said at an announcement in Trois-Rivières, Que., alleging the Liberals are trying to “hide him as much as possible.”

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, speaking in his own Ottawa riding of Carleton, also accused Carney of “hiding again.”

Carney paused his campaign for the third time Thursday to tend to his prime ministerial duties in response to the ongoing U.S. trade war.

He returned to Ottawa to convene a meeting with his Canada-U.S. cabinet council on Friday.

Afterwards, he warned there were “initial …