(Ottawa) Jean Charest accused Pierre Poilievre, Wednesday evening at the first official debate of the Conservative leadership race, of avoiding giving the truth about his position on abortion.
Posted at 9:38 p.m.
This is how the former premier of Quebec launched the first frontal attack against the leader of the race.
The moderator of the oratorical contest in English, which takes place in Edmonton, had just invited the six candidates to indicate what they think of possible legislation on the right to abortion.
Mr. Charest, who replied that “the situation we have right now is what we should maintain”, expressed his dissatisfaction with Mr. Poilievre’s response.
“All the candidates in this room need to tell the women of Canada how they position themselves […] Women in Canada deserve to know […] and, quite frankly, Mr. Poilievre’s response fails that test,” he lamented.
Members of the audience immediately booed Mr. Charest. Earlier, Mr. Poilievre had said that a government he led “would not introduce or support legislation restricting abortion”.
The one who is an MP for the Ottawa region did not hesitate to attack Patrick Brown, who was present after missing the first unofficial oratorical game last week in Ottawa.
Mr. Poilievre criticized Mr. Brown, the mayor of Brampton, for failing to offer his support to truckers who paralyzed downtown Ottawa for weeks last February.
Earlier, the leader of the race had indicated that he intended to replace the governor of the Bank of Canada, Tiff Macklem, whom he accuses of having allowed inflation to rise.
Wednesday’s debate is also set to address the topics of the future of energy, the environment and the cost of living, among others.
The six candidates to succeed Erin O’Toole will debate again on May 25, this time in French, in Laval.