Mark Carney needed to escape the French debate unbloodied [Video]

Liberal Leader Mark Carney speaks during the French-language federal leaders’ debate in Montreal on April 16, 2025.

Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press

Carney, who has a huge lead in public opinion polls in Quebec, had the most to lose. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet are all nipping at his support, notably in Quebec where their path to growth rests with taking him down a few pegs. But none succeeded Wednesday night.

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