Scheer, Singh and May debate China, Indigenous issues and an absent Trudeau

The three opposition politiciansin the Maclean's/Citytv federal leaders' debate tonighthadplenty to divide them, but they were united in condemningLiberal Leader Justin Trudeau's decision to skip the first debate of the election campaign.

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and Green Party Leader Elizabeth May all accused Trudeau of not having the courage to defend his record.

"I think I've found some consensus. I think we can all agree that Justin Trudeau is afraid of his record and that's why he's not here tonight. He has made life more expensive and mismanaged the economy," said Scheer.

Singh and May both agreed with Scheer, but that unity vanishedwhen Scheer challenged themto explain how they would pay for thenational pharmacare programs their parties have promised.

Scheer said 95 per cent of Canadians are already eligible for coverage and the federal government should focuson helping thosewho fall through the cracks, rather than rolling out an expensive universal drugprogram.

"You cannot increase health care services when you are paying more and more money to pay the servicecharges on the debt and that is what all these plans will lead to," said Scheer. "Every dollar that goes to a bond-holder or banker for the debt that they hold is another dollar that can't be used to expand those services."

Singh promised to introduce universal pharmacare within a year and tofund it by closing offshore tax havens, increasing taxes on the rich and closing income tax loopholes. May said a pharmacare program is essential and could be funded by increasing corporate taxes.

All three leaders said they opposed Quebec's religious symbols law, otherwise known asBill 21, but none of them would step in to oppose the law.

Indigenous issues

The federal government was last week ordered to pay what could be billions of dollars in compensation to First Nations children who were harmed by the on-reserve child welfare system. The leaders were asked if they would appeal that ruling. Both Singh and May said they would not.

Singh took Scheer to task for not saying he would acceptthe Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ruling, whichalso called for payments to some parents and grandparents.

Watch: Singh and Scheer clash over tribunal ruling

Scheer under fire over Indigenous ruling (Courtesy: Citytv)

5 years ago

Duration 0:51

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer came under attack for refusing to rule out appealing a Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ruling that awarded billions to Indigenous children.

"It's essential that the outcome of this type of decision actually gets the kinds of resources to the people that need it the most," said Scheer.

"I didn't hear if you would accept the ruling or not. This is Indigenous kids that are not getting equal funding," said Singh. "Mr Trudeau certainly hasn't listened to rulings in the past, he's appealed four or five times previous rulings.

"Mr Scheer; it isn't surprising, but it is appalling that he hasn't said he would accept the ruling. Let me be very clear yes a New Democratic government would accept the ruling."

Dealing with China

The leaders were asked how they would deal with Canada's largest foreign policy challenge: relations with China. Singh said he would abandon hopeof a free trade deal with China and focus on fair trade that ensures Chinese workers and standards are on a par with Canada.

"Anyone who gives an answer confidently saying what they would do with China isn't telling the truth," said May. "China right now,and Canada's relationship with China, are imperilled by some rather large forces that are outside of our control."

Chief among those forces, said May, isPresident Donald Trump; she said Trumpis "poking China with a stick" and driving a trade war that has Canada caughtbetween the two economic superpowers.

Watch: May accuses Scheer of being Trump's puppet

Scheer and May spar on foreign policy (Courtesy: Citytv)

5 years ago

Duration 0:35

Green Party Leader Elizabeth May accuses Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer of being a lap dog to U.S. President Donald Trump when it comes to foreign policy.

"As much as I am concerned with China stopping canola imports and turning down our hog products, the No. 1 concern must be the safety of Canadians,"she said. "Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor should be our concern right now. Not trade, not anything else."

Scheer agreed with May that Kovrig and Spavor,who have been accused of spying by China and have been in Chinese custody since December, should be a top priority. He also said there are ways the Canadian government could express its displeasure with China,including withdrawal ofCanadian funding from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

You will do what Trump wants. He might as well be the ventriloquist and you are Charlie McCarthy.- Elizabeth May to Andrew Scheer

Moderator Paul Wells challenged Scheer on his decision to publicly support Brexit and how that could complicate mattersfor him if he becomes prime minister.

"Justin Trudeau has ridden out this whole three-year process and the result has been that when he meets a British prime minister he is seen as the representative of a valued ally, Canada," said Wells.

"By taking sides in a question like that, do you risk jeopardizing half of that delicate balance?"

Scheer said that he only offered his opinion on Brexit after Trudeau had done so, before pivoting to Trudeau's position on China.

Scheer and Trump

The discussion then shifted to relations with Russia and Ukraine. Scheer said he was proud to be banned from entering Russia and would, as prime minister, continue to stand up for Ukraine against Russian aggression.

May took the opportunity to remind the leaders that Chrystia Freeland, Canada's foreign affairs minister, is also banned from the country and that Scheer's foreign policy positions were not much different than Trump's.

"I looked at your policies on foreign policy today, Andrew, and I realized if anyone wants to know where you stand, just figure out what Trump wants," she said.

"You will do what Trump wants. He might as well be the ventriloquist and you are Charlie McCarthy," May added.

Scheer dismissed the accusation as false and said that while Canada has to increase funding to its military, he is fully committed to NATO.

Do leaders' debates change how people vote?

5 years ago

Duration 8:39

Debates have been a hallmark of Canadian elections since 1968, but what effect do they actually have on voters? Strategists will tell you theyre critical to elections and a lot of planning goes into them. Researchers, on the other hand, say theres evidence they can change votes, though often they don't.