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Quick Quotes: What the leaders said during the French-language debate on Wednesday

Sep 8, 2021 | 9:01 PM

GATINEAU, Que. — The official French-language televised debate took place Wednesday night at the Museum of History in Gatineau, Que.

Here are some key quotes from Liberals’ Justin Trudeau, the Conservatives’ Erin O’Toole, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet, the NDP’s Jagmeet Singh and Green Party Leader Annamie Paul:

“We will continue to operate it until we no longer need it.” 

— Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau on the Trans Mountain pipeline.

“I trust the government of Quebec. Why does Mr. Trudeau always interfere in provincial jurisdiction?”

— Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole on federal health transfers to the provinces.

“The precise explanation, we do not know it, and I refuse to use deaths as a political argument.”

— Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet on deaths from COVID-19 in long-term care.

“I completely agree that we have to recognize Indigenous languages as official languages.”

— NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh

“I also wonder if the other party leaders here, if there had been more women representing their parties, especially as leaders, if we would have waited decades to have something that is a right and that is necessary for women to work.”

— Green Party Leader Annamie Paul on child care. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 8, 2021.

The Canadian Press