Mark Carney Faces Criticism in Canadian Leaders Debate

Canada's recent federal election debates highlighted sharp contrasts between Liberal leader and interim Prime Minister Mark Carney and his main rival, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre. Carney, who succeeded Justin Trudeau after his resignation, used the debates to distance himself from Trudeau’s policies, criticizing their divisiveness and emphasizing his decision to end the unpopular carbon tax. Despite Poilievre’s attempts to tie Carney to Trudeau’s economic record and inflation, Carney maintained that he represents a new direction for the Liberals. Current polling shows Carney leading and likely to secure a parliamentary majority, while the NDP and Bloc Quebecois are trailing and unlikely to win but could still influence the next government if there's no majority. The debates also spotlighted the revival of Liberal fortunes following Trudeau's departure and the impact of U.S. tariffs, consolidating voter support around the Liberals and Conservatives. Both Carney and Poilievre presented differing visions for Canada’s future, with the election expected to hinge on their competing approaches.