Canada election: PM Carney clashes with chief rival Poilievre in 1st TV debate

Prime Minister Mark Carney clashed with his chief rival for the first time during Canada’s election campaign on Wednesday, in a French-language debate that could help determine who wins the April 28 vote and then deals with US tariffs.

Polls show the ruling Liberals, who have been in power for 9½ years, are ahead of the official opposition Conservatives led by Pierre Poilievre.

Carney, who served as head of the central banks of both Canada and Britain, says his experience in dealing with crises makes him the best choice to negotiate with US President Donald Trump, who has said he wants to annex Canada.

“Your party has been in power for 10 years … [its] policies blocked the development of natural resources,” Poilievre told Carney, accusing the Liberals of having weakened the country’s economy and wanting to increase taxes.

“I’ve just arrived and I cut taxes,” Carney responded. Days after becoming prime minister last month, Carney scrapped an unpopular carbon tax that the Conservatives had long promised to abolish.

The exchange was the first between the two men since Carney was elected Liberal leader in March.