Who Won the English Debate? Key Moments from the Final 2025 Leaders’ Showdown

As Canadians prepare to vote, one question lingers after Thursday night’s broadcast: Who won the English debate? The final leaders’ debate before election day saw Liberal Leader Mark Carney, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, and Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet face off on key issues like housing, affordability, the environment, and foreign policy.

Advance polls open this weekend, making this final debate a crucial moment for undecided voters. Here’s what went down—and who came out on top.

Carney Becomes the Primary Target

Mark Carney, the new Liberal leader, was in the spotlight. With the Liberals leading in the polls, his opponents came in swinging. Within 10 minutes, all three challengers took direct shots at him.

• Poilievre hammered Carney’s record on the economy.
• Singh criticized him for failing to fix EI before calling an election.
• Blanchet accused him of offering too little support for Quebec industries.

Each leader used their one-on-one question time to press Carney, signaling he was the man to beat.

Singh and Poilievre Clash Over Housing Numbers

Housing was a hot topic—again. Singh accused Poilievre of building just six homes during his time in cabinet. Poilievre claimed 200,000 were built while he was minister. But fact-checks show both sides stretched the truth.

Carney cut in to say Poilievre misunderstood the housing market entirely. The back-and-forth drew laughs and groans but made it clear: housing will define this election.

Poilievre’s Main Strategy: Link Carney to Trudeau

Throughout the debate, Poilievre tied Carney to Justin Trudeau—calling him the former PM’s “economic adviser.” Carney countered, saying he’s a different person with his own ideas.

“I’m a very different person than Justin Trudeau,” Carney said.

Still, Poilievre doubled down, claiming Trudeau’s former staff were at the debate, writing Carney’s talking points. Carney brushed it off with a firm, “I do my own talking points.”

Singh Interrupts, Fights for Relevance

Jagmeet Singh inserted himself into every heated exchange, often interrupting Poilievre or Carney. His interjections earned some attention, but also drew remarks from Carney to “let him finish.”

Singh’s goal was clear: remind voters that the NDP forced the Liberals into action on key issues like dental care. But with his party polling at just 8.5%, Singh seemed more focused on survival than scoring new ground.

Security, Trump, and Trade: Global Issues on the Table

When asked about Canada’s top security threat, leaders offered different answers:

• Poilievre blamed crime.
• Carney pointed to China.
• Singh cited illegal guns.
• Blanchet warned about U.S. military reliance.

U.S. tariffs and Trump’s comments about annexing Canada also surfaced. Carney said Canada needs a smarter tariff strategy. He added that Trump had recently “respected Canada’s sovereignty” in a phone call—an attempt to calm growing tension.

So… Who Won the English Debate?

It depends on what voters were watching for.

• Carney held his ground under fire, proving he’s not just Trudeau’s replacement.
• Poilievre stayed sharp and on message, appealing to Canadians frustrated by cost-of-living issues.
• Singh was passionate but overzealous with interruptions.
• Blanchet played to Quebec, but didn’t shift the national conversation.

If the goal was to survive the spotlight, Carney succeeded. But if it was to dominate the conversation, Poilievre likely claimed that win.

More…

• https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/key-moments-english-leadership-debate-1.7513787
• https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c20x5xxe4wzo
• https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/livestory/leaders-debate-affordability-and-canadian-security-top-of-mind-during-heated-discussion-9.6728142
• https://www.overheretoronto.com/who-won-the-french-language-leaders-debate