Garneau attacks Trudeau’s lack of experience at Liberal leadership debate
Posted Mar 4, 2013 05:41:03 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Not many sparks flew at the second last federal Liberal leadership debate in Halifax yesterday, with most of the eight candidates patting each other on the back as they discussed issues ranging from health care to job creation.
But it wasn’t completely happy-go-lucky.
41-year-old Justin Trudeau was a clear audience favourite at the debate yesterday, with his speeches often being drowned out by the sound of clapping. But one candidate wasn’t singing Trudeau’s praises, former astronaut Marc Garneau targeted Trudeau in his closing speech.
“We need somebody who has been tested,” said Garneau. “Somebody who is ready now to become prime minister, somebody who’s leadership quality has been forged in the fire of life’s experiences.”
“Mr. Garneau and I have very different conceptions on what leadership is in the 21st century,” Trudeau responded. “The kinds of talk down leadership of the past is what we tried over the past election cycles and that’s why we’re sitting at 35 seats in the house of commons right now.”
No other candidate backed Joyce Murray on her idea to work with the NDP.
“To cooperate one time,” said Murray in her closing speech. “Cross party cooperation, to ensure we don’t split the vote, so we can defeat Stephen Harper and we can fix our democracy. We can bring our environmental protection back again.”
The fifth and last debate will take place in Montreal on March 23rd. The new liberal leader will be known on April 14th.
