6 key moments of the Munk leaders' debate on foreign policy

The Munk leaders' debate on foreign policy, the first of its kind in Canadian history, was praised by many political observers asthe most substantive of the campaign so far.

But the debate on pressing policyissuesdidn't prevent the leaders from going on the offensive in an effort to discredit their opponentsahead of the Oct. 19 vote.

The three main party leaders squared offon the fight against ISIS, Syrian refugees, climate change and the Keystone XL pipeline and citizenship for convicted terrorists and they each got in their fair share of jabs.

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Stephen Harper'srecord was the focus of most of theattacks at Monday's event. But the frequent skirmishesbetweenLiberal Leader Justin Trudeau and NDP Leader Tom Mulcairmade it clear that the fight for left-of-centre voters has now taken centre stage.

Here are some key exchanges:

1. Harper vs.Trudeauon revoking citizenship of terrorists,BillC-24

Liberal Leader JustinTrudeau: You devalue the citizenship of every Canadian in thisplace and in this country when you break down and make itconditional for anybody ... we have a rule of law in this countryand you can't take away citizenship becauseyou don't like whatsomeone does.

Harper and Trudeau spar over C-24 at Munk debate

9 years ago

Duration 0:44

Justin Trudeau and Stephen Harper face off over Bill C-24 which allows a dual national to be stripped of citizenship if convicted of offences related to spying, treason or terrorism.

Conservative Leader Stephen Harper: The individual in question, Mr.Trudeau, is convicted ofplanning the most heinous ...

Trudeau:... And should be in jail.

Harper. A few blocks from here, (he) would have detonated bombsthat would have been on a scale of 9/11. This country has everyright to revoke the citizenship of an individual like that.

2.BillC-51Anti-terrorism Act

NDP Leader TomMulcair:Never forget that in Mr. Harper's failed BillC-51, which wasbacked by Mr.Trudeau'sLiberals, there was nothing onde-radicalizationhere at home.

The NDP has a clear plan to bring in 2,500 more police officersacross the country.

We know that we have to work with faith groups of alldescriptions but you know, Mr. Harper always has one group in mindand he tends to finger-point and objectify one particular group.

He doesn't talk about houses of worship. He specifically refersto mosques and Muslims across Canada know howtointerpret that forexactly what it is.

Trudeau:What Mr.Mulcairhas done onC-51is exactly what so many of us say that Mr. Harper has done, which is play the politics of fear. Now, with Mr. Harper, we know onC-51he wants us to be afraid that there is a terrorist hiding behind every leaf and rock and he wants us to be afraid for he can say he is there to protect us.

Mr.Mulcairis playing the politics of fear and division. Fear for environmental groups and First Nations, fear that we ripped up the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and we know that's not true.

3. The Keystone pipeline

Harper: We far more often, than not, agree with our American friends. When we do not, we have to stand up for our interests and be very aggressive and vocal pushing for Canada's best interests.

Harper and Mulcair on Keystone XL

9 years ago

Duration 0:46

Tom Mulcair and Stephen Harper argue the Conservative government's strategy on the Keystone XL pipeline at the Munk debate on foreign affairs.

Mulcair: Well, that's a wonderful idea. But when you actually need the approval of your colleagues for something you are pushing for, the last thing you should be doing is saying it's a complete no-brainer or you will take or you won't take no for answer or you [say to] President Obama if you don't get it with this administration, you'll get it with the next administration.

There's an old saying Mr. Harper, you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. Ithink you were pouring vinegar by the gallon on the Americans.

4.TrudeauonTrudeau

Mulcair:When you have convictions you have to have the courage to stand up for your convictions. The NDP took a stance against [Bill]C-51. The same way the NDP was the only one to stand up to PierreTrudeauwhen he put Canadians in jail without charges. The NDP stood up against that.

Trudeau: 'I am incredibly proud to be Pierre Elliott Trudeau's son'

9 years ago

Duration 1:04

Liberal leader Justin Trudeau defends his father's record as Prime Minister at the Munk debate on foreign affairs

Trudeau:Throughout this campaign, in direct references and indirectreferences, both of these gentlemen have at various points attackedmy father. Let me say very clearly, I am incredibly proud to bePierre ElliotTrudeau'sson. And I am incrediblylucky to have beenraised with those values.

5. Climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions

Harper:In the electricity sector, we have proceeded in collaboration not with the United States but with our provinces on a position that is, frankly, going farther and faster than the United States. We will be the first country in the world to effectively shut down coal-fired, traditional coal-fired electricity, the biggest single source of emissions on the planet eliminated. In Canada, we will have the cleanest energy sector, and doing that without imposing taxes.

Trudeau: You will see the irony of standing here in Toronto and telling people in Ontario you somehow supported and aided the closing of coal-fired plants in Ontario. You and your government fought the Ontario government tooth and nail. The Ontario government was demonstrating it could reduce its emissions by the most significant degree of any jurisdiction by making a policy decision that you were no part of you were blocking and ridiculing from Ottawa.

6. The fight against ISIS

Mulcair:It is important to remember that this is not a NATO mission. Thisis not a United Nations mission.

When it was a question of going into Libya, under the UnitedNations duty to protect, the NDP voted for thoseairstrikesbecauseit was a UN mission. When that started to morph into somethingcompletely different, we withdrew our support.

So, the answer to your question is we understand that there willbe times when we have to, either under the NATOCharter or under ourinternational obligations at the UN, to use force and we won't shyaway from that. But thereal question here is that the only thingthat we can do?

Harper: The other parties think we should not take direct military action against the Islamic State. This is a group that would slaughter literally millions of people in its wake, that has an intention, a stated intention, to attack to launch terrorist attacks around the world, including against this country. And it has indicated it has the capacity to do that. We have a very clear reason for being there, supported by our allies in the international community.