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Reuters

Politics

David Ljunggren and Kelsey Johnson

Main Canadian opposition leader slams PM Trudeau as a fraud in key election debate

Conservative leader Andrew Scheer and Liberal leader Justin Trudeau gesture to each other as they both respond during the Federal leaders debate in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada October 7, 2019. Justin Tang/Pool via REUTERS

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada's main opposition leader repeatedly attacked Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday during a pivotal televised debate, calling him a phony and a fraud who did not deserve to be re-elected on Oct. 21.

Opinion polls show Andrew Scheer's Conservatives with a real chance of defeating the ruling Liberals, whose campaign stumbled last month after images from years ago emerged showing Trudeau in blackface. Trudeau has repeatedly apologized for the images.

Federal party leaders Green Party leader Elizabeth May, Liberal leader Justin Trudeau, Conservative leader Andrew Scheer, People's Party of Canada leader Maxime Bernier, Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-Francois Blanchet and NDP leader Jagmeet Singh pose for a photograph before the Federal leaders debate in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada October 7, 2019. Sean Kilpatrick/Pool via REUTERS

The two-hour debate - the only one to be held in English, the language spoken by two-thirds of Canada's 38 million population - has traditionally been regarded as an important way of winning the minds of voters.

In one of the few truly memorable moments, Scheer noted the Liberal leader had not at first disclosed how many times he had put on dark makeup.

"He can't even remember how many times he put blackface on, because the fact of the matter is he's always wearing a mask," said Scheer.

Green Party leader Elizabeth May, left, and People's Party of Canada leader Maxime Bernier, third from right, exchange ideas as Liberal leader Justin Trudeau, Conservative leader Andrew Scheer, Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-Francois Blanchet and NDP leader Jagmeet Singh look on during the Federal leaders debate in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada October 7, 2019. Justin Tang/Pool via REUTERS

"Mr. Trudeau, you are a phony and you are a fraud and you do not deserve to govern this country."

The debate format - which grouped six party leaders on one stage - meant Trudeau could not respond directly to the remarks. During the evening, participants often talked over one another and were sometimes hard to understand.

Trudeau came under frequent attack from his rivals and stumbled on occasion over his words.

Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-Francois Blanchet and NDP leader Jagmeet Singh debate a point during the Federal leaders debate in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada October 7, 2019. Justin Tang/Pool via REUTERS

The Liberal leader, turning to face Scheer, accused him of trying to give tax breaks to Canada's richest people.

"You did not answer the question on why you are lowering taxes by C$50,000 for multimillionaires," Trudeau told his rival, whom he accuses of harboring an extreme right-wing agenda.

Scheer also blasted Trudeau for a watchdog's ruling that the prime minister and his team inappropriately tried to help a construction company in the predominantly French-speaking province of Quebec avoid a corruption trial.

Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-Francois Blanchet listens to NDP leader Jagmeet Singh, and People's Party of Canada leader Maxime Bernier speak during the Federal leaders debate in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada October 7, 2019. Sean Kilpatrick/Pool via REUTERS

"When did you decide that the rules don't apply to you?" he asked Trudeau.

"The role of a prime minister is to stand up for Canadians' jobs, to stand up for the public interest, and that is what I've done and that is what I will continue to do," replied Trudeau.

Scheer is facing questions about why he did not disclose he has dual Canadian-U.S. citizenship.

New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Jagmeet Singh attends a news conference after an English language federal election debate at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada October 7, 2019. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe

One person outside the debate venue held a sign that read: "Make Andrew Canadian Again" - a play on the "Make America Great Again" slogan championed by U.S. President Donald Trump.

A Nanos Research poll for CTV and the Globe and Mail on Monday put the Liberals at 34.3% and the Conservatives at 33.4%, in contrast to surveys that showed Trudeau falling behind after the blackface scandal broke on Sept. 18.

Trudeau has gained momentum since Scheer stumbled through a French-language debate on Wednesday. During that event, Trudeau went on the offensive against Scheer.