The first official French-language debate of the 2025 federal election campaign unfolded in Montreal on April 16th, less than a fortnight before the scheduled April 28th vote. While the anticipated confrontations between the principal contenders, Liberal leader Mark Carney and Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, largely failed to materialize, the evening was not devoid of pointed exchanges. Indeed, certain moments, driven primarily by NDP leader Jagmeet Singh and Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet, injected a measure of vigour, and perhaps even a touch of absurdity, into the proceedings.
The event brought together the leaders of Canada’s four most prominent federal parties for a televised encounter. Held in Montreal, this debate served as the precursor to the English-language version scheduled for the following evening. In a move indicative of certain national priorities, the start time was adjusted to minimize conflict with a Montreal Canadiens hockey game. The leaders – Carney, Poilievre, Singh, and Blanchet – addressed critical national issues including the cost of living, international trade, immigration policies, Quebec sovereignty, and climate action, though adherence to the prescribed topics occasionally wavered.
Jagmeet Singh, in particular, adopted an aggressive posture towards Yves-François Blanchet. During a discussion concerning the function of minority governments and opposition parties, Singh delivered a sharp critique of the Bloc Québécois’s perceived legislative impact. He argued that the party failed to adequately represent the interests of Quebecers, culminating in a rather striking comparison. Singh asserted that Blanchet’s party, during the previous minority government, proved “as useless as the monarchy,” accusing it of achieving little of substance for the populace. This direct attack highlighted the ongoing friction between the NDP and the Bloc as they compete for similar voter demographics within Quebec.
Blanchet, however, was not merely a passive recipient of criticism. He directed his own pointed remarks towards both Carney and Singh, particularly concerning their fiscal plans. When pressed on the lack of fully costed platforms and questioned about potential budget cuts, Blanchet interjected, dismissing their proposals with a memorable, if dismissive, metaphor. Labelling their fiscal outlines as “Harry Potter budgets,” he implied their promises relied more on illusion than sound economic calculation, a moment that added a slightly funny, theatrical barb to the discussion on serious financial matters.
The debate’s moderation also provided a moment of note. Singh’s persistence during another attack on Blanchet, this time regarding healthcare funding, led to direct intervention from moderator Patrice Roy. Despite warnings, Singh continued, prompting Roy to count down before instructing technicians to cut the NDP leader’s microphone. This procedural intervention, while ensuring order, also underscored the tensions present and, incidentally, resulted in Singh receiving the least speaking time among the four leaders.
Further candidate clashes emerged later in the debate. When Poilievre discussed his proposals on crime, including controversial plans regarding sentencing, Singh again voiced strong disagreement. He accused the Conservative leader of manufacturing division on an issue where broad consensus already existed, stating emphatically, “You’re not special for proposing that,” thereby attempting to deflate Poilievre’s position. Interactions extended beyond the debate stage, as both Singh and Blanchet notably refused to engage substantively with questions from Rebel News during the post-debate media availability, citing the outlet’s reputation for disseminating misinformation. Blanchet’s dismissal, delivered with a smile, added another layer to the controlled but occasionally sharp political highlights of the evening.
While perhaps lacking the sustained fireworks some might have anticipated between the frontrunners, the French language debate offered valuable political highlights and insights into the dynamics of the 2025 election campaign. The pointed exchanges, strategic critiques, and moments of procedural drama provided a clearer picture of the leaders’ approaches and the underlying tensions shaping the path to election day.
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6 of the spiciest moments from the federal leaders’ French-language debate
