Politics This Morning Election 2015: Four debates down, one to go

As soon as the Munk Debates on foreign affairs was over, parties claimed victory for each of their leaders. But the real victory may have been the debate itself. The format seemed to click with viewers, audience members and political pundits. Liberal strategist Rob Silver tweeted last night: “I admit I was 100% wrong about this debate. It was very good.” Sun Media Ottawa bureau chief David Akin tweeted “Bravo @munkdebate! Entertaining. Informative. Might even influence a general election.” The Globe and Mail’s Tabatha Southey tweeted, “Well, #MunkDebate is everything #SuperBloodMoon wasn’t. Hope you kept the kids up.” And Postmedia’s Andrew Coyne noted on twitter: “A point I didn’t get to make just now: I agree debate was not as bilingual as it could’ve been (I’ll be interested to see the breakdown)… but it was a pretty god advertisement for what a bilingual debate could be. This was the first we’ve tried this. It was pretty much jury rigged, the format adapted on the fly, with a non-bilingual moderator… Imagine what it could be like with a little more practice.” Conservative Leader Stephen Harper, NDP Leader Tom Mulcair and Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau faced off in a debate at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto last night and spoke about Canada’s mission against ISIS, refugees, Bill C-51 climate change, and the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement among others. When it came to Canada’s role in the fight against ISIS in Iraq and Syria, Mr. Harper criticized Mr. Mulcair and Mr. Trudeau for indicating they would Canada from the mission. “This is a group that not only left to its own devices would slaughter literally millions of people in its wake but has a stated intention to launch terrorist attacks around the world including against this country,” he said. On Syrian refugees, Mr. Harper said that his opponents were simply trying to get headline attention rather than addressing the issue at hand. “We haven't opened the floodgates,” he said. “Some European countries just started letting everybody in and now they're trying to reverse those policies.” Mr. Harper noted that Canada has sped up its refugee process “while maintaining our security and not literally spending tens of millions of additional dollars. And these are the numbers we've arrived at. We're not chasing headlines.” In response, Mr. Mulcair said Mr. Harper was being disrespectful. “For a prime minister of Canada to say that trying to help the most needy of the earth, help people fleeing a tragedy on a scale not seen since the Second World War, anybody fighting to take more of them in to Canada and to help them is somehow chasing headlines—I find that's disrespectful,” he said. “It is disrespectful to Canadians and to Canadian values.” In a statement, Mr. Mulcair said if elected, he would commit bettering Canada’s reputation in the world by increasing foreign aid and building relationships. “I think that it is a fundamental Canadian value to do more, to help the needy in the world, to help on issues like international cases of poverty, help build democracy, help defend women's rights. Those are core Canadian values,” he said. “Canadians understand that it's only by investing that we can help democracy and help alleviate poverty. And importantly as well, we can help build Canada's standing in the world. We have lost that.” Mr. Mulcair said an NDP government would increase development assistance to 0.7 per cent of Canada’s gross national income. He also noted that Canada’s relationship with other countries, particularly the United States, is also damaging the country’s reputation. “Mr. Harper has lost the respect of the White House. We missed our turn on the Security Council. We're the only country to have withdrawn from the Kyoto protocol,” he said. “I'll defend your values Canadian values on the world stage where Mr. Harper has failed.” In a statement after the debate, Mr. Trudeau said a Liberal government would “reclaim Canada’s place on the world stage.” If elected, he would invest in climate change, expand free trade to grow the middle class, strengthen the Canadian Armed Forces, increase help to Syrian refugees and support peacekeeping missions. “Canada should be a true leader—one that has earned its place at the front of the pack, based on our leadership on economic, humanitarian, and security issues. But after a decade of Stephen Harper, we are viewed as an outlier by many of our closest partners,” Mr. Trudeau said. “Under a Liberal government, Canada will return to its role as a constructive, valued partner within the broader international community.” In his statement, Mr. Trudeau said that Canadians must start a new conversation about who they want to be and show it to the world. “Tonight, Canadians saw firsthand that only Liberals have a credible, robust approach to foreign policy. Under a Liberal government, our country will once again lead by example.” Meanwhile, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, who was not invited to the debate, tweeted her party’s foreign affairs platform last night. This was the fourth national leaders debate. The next one is scheduled for Oct. 2, hosted by TVA in French, starting at 8 p.m. Where the leaders are, day 59 (all times local) Conservative Leader Stephen Harper will be campaigning in Vaughan and Richmond Hill, Ont., today. He will deliver remarks at the Arista Homes Development sales pavilion where he will be joined by Conservative candidate Julian Fantino, running for re-election in Vaughan-Woodbridge. Mr. Harper will then visit Richmond Hill, where he will deliver remarks. He will be joined by Conservative candidates Jason Kenney (running for re-election in Calgary Midnapore, Alta.) and Michael Parsa (running for election in Richmond Hill, Ont.). NDP Leader Tom Mulcair will be campaigning in Nunavut today. He will hold a photo opportunity at Sylvia Grinnell Territorial Park Pavilion in Iqaluit at 3 p.m. and another photo op at NorthMart Grocery Store at 6 p.m. Mr. Mulcair will then attend a community feast at Nakasuk School at 6:30 p.m. Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau will be in Manitoba and British Columbia today. First up is a stop at Carte International Inc., in Winnipeg, Man., where he will make an announcement at 10 a.m. He will then attend a rally with Liberal candidates and supporters at 6:30 p.m. in Richmond, B.C., at the Steveston-Richmond East Liberal Campaign Office. Green Party Leader Elizabeth May will be in Victoria, Sidney and Saanich, B.C., today. She will participate in an all candidates debate at Reynolds Secondary School in Victoria at 10:15 a.m. She will then attend a seniors issues debate hosted by the Canadian Association of Retired Persons at 2 p.m. Ms. May will then greet commuters in Saanich at 5 p.m. and then attend another all candidates meeting in Cordova Bay at 7 p.m. Photo of the day Sept. 28 was the 15th anniversary of the death of Canada’s 15th prime minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau. Photographer Jean-Marc Carisse posted this photo on his Facebook page yesterday. He wrote: “Fifteen years ago today, Sept. 28, 2000, as official photographer while flying with my boss Prime Minister Chrétien from Guatemala to Jamaica, we learned early in the flight that our former PM passed away. It was a shocker as we learned of it shortly after a severe turbulence. Our plans for an official dinner in Jamaica with other Carribean leaders were changed and reduced to a minute of silence honouring our former leader (as my photo illustrates.) We then flew back home with our Canadian delegation to plan a state funeral to honour our stately prime minister, who had been named ‘Newsmaker of the century’ by The Canadian Press. PM Chrétien said in a House of Commons tribute: ‘Pierre, you made us young, you made us proud and you made us dream. Thank you, dear friend, and farewell.’” Photograph by Jean-Marc Carisse, 2000, www.carissephoto.com