In a mostly polite exchange during Thursday’s English federal leaders debate, the four party leaders outlined starkly different approaches to workforce challenges, economic stability and immigration policy as Canada faces mounting pressure from U.S. tariffs and global uncertainty.
The debate, hosted in Montreal, saw Liberal leader Mark Carney, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh and Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet spar over how best to protect Canadian jobs while navigating international pressures.
Tariffs and job protection
Job security amid U.S. tariffs dominated early discussions, with Carney defending his government’s approach to counter-tariffs designed to have “maximum impact in the United States and minimum impact here at home.”
“We have carved out the Canadian auto parts sector so that it can remain competitive with the United States. We’re focused on maximizing Canadian jobs,” said Carney, who has served as prime minister for just one month following Justin Trudeau’s resignation.
Singh countered that workers are already suffering, claiming the mere threat of tariffs has resulted in job losses in steel, aluminum and the auto sector. He criticized the Liberal government for prioritizing tax cuts for wealthy Canadians while neglecting working people.
“Workers who’ve lost their job are saying, ‘How do I pay my bills when EI recovers maybe 40 per cent of salary?'” Singh said. “Most workers are spending their entire salary just to pay the bills.”
Immigration and workforce planning
Immigration emerged as a flashpoint, particularly when Blanchet raised concerns about Quebec’s capacity to integrate newcomers while preserving its distinct language and culture.
“Immigration has to be dealt with in an orderly fashion. Our borders are not dealt with in an orderly fashion,” said Blanchet. “The services for every citizen in Quebec are being reduced because we cannot afford the fact that we are receiving much more people in Quebec from this specific type of immigration than we can afford.”
He called for a pause in immigration rates, saying, “Let’s receive migrants in an orderly fashion and successfully as a measure of respect for them also.”
Labour market and skills development
The leaders offered competing visions for addressing Canada’s labour market challenges.
Carney emphasized opportunities in skilled trades. “When you think about workers here today and people watching at home, particularly younger people, there is an enormous opportunity in the trades, in the skilled trades. We are going to build this country in a way that has not been seen before,” he said. “We are literally talking about hundreds of thousands, not jobs, but careers, and that’s why we’re investing in apprenticeships.”
Meanwhile, Poilievre focused on tax relief as key to helping workers, proposing to cut income taxes by 15 per cent for average workers and seniors, which he claimed would save a working couple up to $2,000.
“The number one expense for families today is taxes, more than they spend on food, clothing and shelter combined,” Poilievre said. “We need a change in this country, because your hard work should once again pay off with a powerful paycheque.”
Critical minerals and future industries
All leaders acknowledged the economic potential of Canada’s critical minerals sector, with Blanchet noting that “Quebec has probably the most important clean energy reserves in North America.”
Carney positioned critical minerals development as both an economic and strategic opportunity.
“This is an enormous economic opportunity. It is a strategic opportunity for Canada,” he said, adding that his government would establish a “first and last mile fund” to connect mining projects to transportation infrastructure.
Cost of living and affordability
Affordability remained a central theme, with leaders offering different approaches to help Canadians struggling with rising costs.
Singh positioned himself as the only leader who has “fought for real relief for people,” citing his party’s support for national pharmacare, dental care and childcare programs that “make life more affordable.”
The debate revealed fundamental differences in how the leaders would approach workforce challenges, economic development and Canadian competitiveness in an increasingly uncertain global environment—issues that will directly impact employers and HR professionals as they navigate workforce planning in the months ahead.
