THUNDER BAY – Though she acknowledged Canada is in the midst of a “fragile” global economy, Moe Comuzzi is adamant Stephen Harper emerged from the first debate of this federal election campaign as the most formidable leader.
The Conservative candidate for Thunder Bay-Rainy River said the party’s leader and country’s prime minister for the past nine years demonstrated during Thursday night’s debate why he deserves to form the next government.
“He is clearly the only choice,” Comuzzi said Friday morning. “He’s a proven leader in a fragile economy and uncertain times. He’s very clear in his position on keeping our country safe and our economy strong.”
Harper came into the debate, which was hosted by MacLean’s and moderated by the magazine’s political editor Paul Wells, with a target on his back and had to weather attacks from NDP Leader Tom Mulcair, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau and Green Party Leader Elizabeth May.
The other three leaders repeatedly attempted to press Harper into admitting the country is slipping once again into economic recession.
Some of those attacks, particularly during the economic portion of the debate, centred around Conservative initiatives such as the new Universal Enhanced Child Care Benefit, income splitting for couples and small business tax credits.
Liberal candidate Don Rusnak said Trudeau was effective with taking both Harper and Mulcair to task on a variety of issues.
Throughout the debate Trudeau constantly hounded Harper, with his refrain of “it’s not true” heard frequently.
“He came out fighting and showed Canadians he can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the other party leaders. Mr. Harper’s attacks only further proved he’s in the business of manipulation and not in the business of accountability,” Rusnak said.
“The decade under Stephen Harper has been disastrous for Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario. Justin Trudeau is planning on doing things differently and Mulcair doesn’t have a plan.”
NDP candidate John Rafferty pleased with the performance Mulcair turned in during his first campaign debate, adding his leader visibly grew more comfortable on stage as the discussion went on.
Rafferty said he believes Mulcair set himself apart from Trudeau, and presented a polar opposite to Harper, during the foreign policy and national security portion of the debate.
“I thought, and I hope Canadians felt this way, that he looked prime ministerial,” he said of Mulcair.
“This whole sense of free speech and freedom in this country have been compromised by Mr. Harper, particularly with Bill C-51, which had a lot of discussion last night. I think you really have to strike a balance and Mr. Mulcair was clear on this between terrorism and acts of terrorism and protecting Canadians freedom.”
Christy Radbourne, the Green Party’s candidate in the riding, applauded the performance by May, who received the rare opportunity to take the stage with the leaders of the big three parties.
A number of pundits said May arguably had the strongest showing on stage, criticizing Harper on his government’s environmental record and proving she was well-versed on a number of issues relating to the economy and foreign policy.
“I think she showed we’re certainly not a one-issue party and that her and the Green Party have a good command of the issues facing the country, the numbers associated with them and we have a concrete plan on what we’re going to do about those issues,” Radbourne said.
“It’s critical as a newer and younger party entering the national foray I think people need to understand we have a competent, capable leader who could certainly serve as prime minister on the world stage and on the national stage. It’s critical for our candidates across all of our ridings we have the ability to contribute on those issues.”
