Prime Minister Mark Carney clashed with his chief rival for the first time during Canadaโs 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 9ยฝ years, ahead of the Conservatives led by Pierre Poilievre.
Carney, who served as head of the central banks of both Canada and England, 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.
Carney briefly served as economic adviser to former Liberal prime minister Justin Trudeau, whom Poilievre blames for rising prices and a chronic housing shortage.
โYou are just like Justin Trudeau โฆ we need change and you, Mr Carney, are not change,โ Poilievre told Carney.
โMr Poilievre is not Mr Trudeau and neither am I. This election [is about] the question of who will succeed, and who will face up to Trump,โ Carney retorted.