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Jagmeet Singh triumphs in leaders' debate by breaking up spats between Trudeau, Scheer

NDP leader Jagmeet Singh speaks during the Federal leaders debate in Gatineau, Que. on Monday, October 7, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
NDP leader Jagmeet Singh speaks during the Federal leaders debate in Gatineau, Que. on Monday, October 7, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

The first english debate for the 2019 federal election saw leaders tackle issues on immigration, health care and the environment while sharply criticizing each other. Much of the debate featured two or more leaders talking over another.

Andrew Scheer and Justin Trudeau in particular found themselves going head-to-head during the debate. Scheer went after Trudeau for his blackface scandal and and the SNC-Lavalin affair, starting the debate by calling him a ‘phony’. Trudeau slammed Scheer for his views on abortion and immigration.

Through the bickering, Singh found himself an opening: The chance to be a voice of reason by interrupting more than once to break up the leaders’ fights.

‘We’ve got to start presenting who will be best for Canada’

In a viral moment at the beginning of the debate, Singh interrupts Scheer and Trudeau’s attempt to speak over each other by stating that Canadians don’t need to pick between the two leaders. He says Scheer and Trudeau are debating about who’s worse for Canada, when really “we’ve got to start presenting who will be best for Canada.”

‘Mr. Delay and Mr. Deny’

After Scheer and Trudeau exchanged words on climate change, Singh said ““You do not need to choose between Mr. Delay and Mr. Deny, there is another option” to applause and laughs from the audience.

‘I’m very different from Mr. Scheer’

Singh was quick to poke fun at Trudeau for mixing up his name with Andrew Scheer. When Trudeau realized he had fumbled, Singh shot back by saying “I’m very different from Mr. Scheer”.

‘Every single day of my life is fighting a bill like Bill 21’

Singh also came out on top when handling questions from Trudeau about why he isn’t formally challenging Quebec’s Bill 21, which prevents those who wear religious symbols from holding government positions. Singh reminded Trudeau that as a person of colour he handles questions about what he wears and his faith, every single day.

Do you think Singh had the most zingers of the night? Let us know in the comments.