‘Tough days ahead’: How Canada’s leaders reacted to Trump’s market chaos

Fernando Ameth Pinzon has been a Canadian citizen since 2004 but has never voted. After fleeing his native Panama following the U.S. invasion in 1989, life in Canada felt safe and stable. Voting for change seemed unnecessary. Then, U.S. President Donald Trump began threatening Canada's sovereignty and that of his home country for a second time.

In a special Canada Votes edition of At Issue, Rosemary Barton and the panel discuss who came off best and worst in the French-language leaders' debate, whether Mark Carney’s French passed muster, and whether Pierre Poilievre succeeded in appearing more prime ministerial.

Liberal Leader Mark Carney, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh all took part in the French-language debate on Wednesday. Here are some key moments.

In the French language election debate Wednesday night, the four main federal party leaders were asked to lay out policy priorities that have nothing with the United States.

Liberal Leader Mark Carney faced jabs from his opponents at Wednesday's French-language leaders' debate, with accusations he's out of touch with working people and won't offer enough change from his unpopular predecessor.

With just under two weeks to go until Election Day, some Canadians with disabilities say they feel forgotten by the federal party leaders.

An Elections Canada spokesperson says a wide range of information is accepted to confirm someone's identity, from hospital bracelets to labels on prescription containers.

The Bank of Canada on Wednesday held its key policy rate at 2.75 per cent, its first pause after seven consecutive cuts, and said the uncertainty around U.S. tariffs made it impossible to issue regular economic forecasts.

The Bank of Canada on Wednesday held its key policy rate at 2.75 per cent, its first pause after seven consecutive cuts, and said the uncertainty around U.S. tariffs made it impossible to issue regular economic forecasts.

The Bank of Canada on Wednesday held its key policy rate at 2.75 per cent, its first pause after seven consecutive cuts, and said the uncertainty around U.S. tariffs made it impossible to issue regular economic forecasts.

While the Green Party was originally invited to take part in the federal leaders' debates, the party was disqualified for not meeting the criteria on Wednesday morning.

The Leaders' Debates Commission, which is tasked with organizing the French and English debates, has removed the Green Party from federal leaders’ debates for failing to meet participation requirements. 

Israeli forces have taken over more than half of Gaza in a renewed campaign to pressure Hamas to release hostages after Israel ended their ceasefire last month.

Quebec Premier François Legault called on the next federal government to reduce the number of temporary immigrants in the province, saying it was putting a strain on the housing market, social services and Quebec identity. But businesses are concerned cuts to immigration levels would make it more difficult to find workers.

The number of cross-border travellers going from Canada to the U.S. dropped by nearly 900,000 in March compared to the same month last year, according to the latest U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data — easily one of the worst year-over-year drops recorded outside of the COVID-19 health crisis.

Patrick Osborne is frustrated by the federal Liberals’ gun control measures, arguing they unfairly target law-abiding Canadians like himself while doing little to reduce gun violence in the country. As a gun owner, he’s looking for a party that understands his perspective.

Indigenous people are less likely to vote than non-Indigenous people. First Nations leaders recognize that concern, which is why they’re encouraging Indigenous people to get educated on what they need, find out where to go, and then get out to cast their ballots.

Liberal Leader Mark Carney is expected to be the main target of tonight's French-language debate.

Prominent conservative grassroots campaigners will ramp up push for provincial independence if Liberals win federally.

Six Conservative MPs, including the party's deputy leader, disclosed last year they personally invested in companies related to Brookfield Corp., despite attacking Liberal Leader Mark Carney for his work chairing one of its spinoff companies.

Fewer Ontarians are heading south, according to U.S. data that shows land border crossings are on a steady decline, likely due to tariffs, rising costs and economic concerns.

The leaders of the Bloc Quebecois and the NDP want the leaders' debates commission to postpone the French-language debate due to the Montreal Canadiens playing for a playoff spot.

The leaders of the Bloc Quebecois and the NDP want the leaders' debates commission to postpone the French-language debate due to the Montreal Canadiens playing for a playoff spot.

The Green Party says it deliberately didn't run candidates in some ridings, even though the party submitted a full slate of potential candidates to the commission responsible for organizing the leadership debates.

The start time of Wednesday's French-language leaders' debate has been changed from 8 p.m. to 6 p.m. after two federal party leaders requested it not clash with a potentially consequential Montreal Canadiens hockey game.

The New Democratic Party is requesting that Wednesday evening's French-language debate be postponed rather than held on the same night the Habs are making what could be their last chance to clinch a playoff spot. 

The New Democratic Party is requesting that Wednesday evening’s French-language debate be postponed rather than held on the same night the Habs are making their last bid for a spot in the playoffs.

Trump's rhetoric toward Canada has appeared to soften in recent weeks, but the White House says his position remains that 'Canadians would benefit' from being a U.S. state.

In early March, Mike de Jong was "informally advised" that he had been rejected as the Conservative candidate for the newly created riding of Abbotsford-South Langley. The party instead chose to run Sukhman Gill, a 25-year-old Langley blueberry farmer, and de Jong announced he would be running as an Independent.