CBC initially reported that on Sunday, political leaders Mark Carney and Pierre Poilievre were questioned by Guy A. Lepage on the influential Radio-Canada talk show “Tout le monde en parle,” aiming to appeal to the francophone audience in Quebec. The program is known for its high viewership, often reaching up to a million people in the province, which is significant given that Quebec sends 78 members to the House of Commons, the largest contingent after Ontario.
The CBC Poll Tracker indicates that Carney’s Liberals are leading in Quebec with 42.4% of the popular vote, with the Bloc Québécois and the Poilievre’s Conservatives close behind at 23.5% and 23.2%, respectively. This is despite heavy criticism of Carney, who has made several Quebec-related mistakes during his campaign run. Carney was candid about his French language skills and cultural knowledge of Quebec, admitting, “My French is not perfect… I make gaffes.”
Carney, who served as the governor of the Central Bank of Canada during the 2008 recession, highlighted his collaboration with the then-Quebec premier Jean Charest to navigate through the economic downturn. He also addressed the topic of potential future pipelines in Quebec, emphasizing that any such project would require social acceptability and noting that Quebecers use 355,000 barrels of oil per day, mostly imported from the United States.
Conservative leader Poilievre faced scrutiny over the perception that he shares similarities with former U.S. President Donald Trump. Responding to a playful question about whether he is a “mini-Trump,” Poilievre humorously referred to his weight and underscored his modest upbringing, contrasting it with Trump’s inherited wealth. He stated, “I have a completely different story from Donald Trump.”
On the topic of negotiation skills, particularly with the U.S. president, Poilievre expressed confidence, saying, “It’s certain that if I can face Guy A. Lepage, I can face Donald Trump,” to which Lepage retorted, “Yes, but I don’t have tariffs.”
The leaders are preparing for the upcoming debates in both French and English at the Maison Radio-Canada in Montreal, scheduled for this Wednesday and Thursday.
