MONTREAL -- Canada's main federal party leaders squared off on U.S. tariffs and President Donald Trump's global trade war, offering contrasting visions for a country under economic threat.
Liberal Leader Mark Carney is leading in the polls and became the main target of his rivals attacks early in the debate -- a trend that carried over from Wednesday's French language debate.
Carney said the bilateral relationship has "fundamentally changed" because Trump is looking to restructure the trading system. He said Canada's starting point has to be "one of strength" and must show it's a master of its own economic destiny.
But Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre accused the Liberal government of being hostile toward Canada's energy sector and pipelines. He accused the Liberals of weakening the economy and vowed that a Conservative government would repeal "anti-energy laws, red tape and high taxes."
He attacked Carney for not repealing Bill C-69, which overhauled how major national infrastructure projects are reviewed for environmental impacts.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh accused Carney of failing to defend Canadian jobs threatened by U.S. tariffs since becoming prime minister and said the Liberal government is pro-pipeline because it purchased the Trans Mountain pipeline.
"I don't know what Pierre is complaining about," Singh said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 17, 2025.
-- With files from Kyle Duggan in Ottawa and Morgan Lowrie in Montreal