Some Calgary voters unmoved by English debate between Canada’s main party leaders

Judging by reactions at a local watch party, Calgarians weren't very swayed by the federal leaders debate Thursday. Timm Bruch reports.

Canada’s main party leaders were again in the spotlight on Thursday as they made their best pitch to voters as to why they should be elected prime minister.

The second and final televised debate of the federal election brought some sparks, but not everyone watching from Calgary is convinced the night was a decider.

It wasn’t any one of the four major party leaders that took centre stage at the debate.

It was a thing: energy.

“We have to send Canadian oil from Western Canada through the states just to get it back because we don’t have a pipeline,” said Pierre Poilievre, Conservative leader.

“I’m interested in getting energy infrastructure built. That means pipelines, that means carbon-capture storage, that means electricity grids,” said Mark Carney, Liberal leader.

Even when the question was about U.S. President Donald Trump or affordability, conversation floated back to energy.

Poilievre and Carney sparred on pipelines, self-reliance and Bill C-69.

“I asked Mr. Carney why he would keep in place anti-pipeline law (that) effectively empowers Donald Trump to have a total monopoly on our single biggest export,” Poilievre said.

“I know it may be difficult. Mr. Poilievre, you spent years running against Justin Trudeau and the carbon tax. … They’re both gone, OK, they’re both gone, and we’re in. A new person, and we’re very different,” Carney said.

With just 11 days to go, the race between these two leaders is tightening up.

That’s perhaps what made the debate such a letdown, according to one expert.

“Carney’s performance was weak. Pierre, he was annoying. (Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François) Blanchet, why is he even there? (NDP Leader Jagmeet) Singh was probably the best of the lot and it’s not going to make a wick of difference for him,” said Duane Bratt, political scientist with Mount Royal University.

At a debate watch party in downtown Calgary, white ribbons were handed out to decided voters and black to those who don’t have their minds made up.

As the leaders left the stage, those undecided viewers were left disappointed.

“We hear a lot of statements about what is happening or what people want to see, but not certainly the ‘how,’” said one viewer.

“I think it was just a lot of talking points. I wasn’t convinced one way or the other,” said another.

Even those with decided ribbons weren’t all that moved.

“I think most people tend to have their minds already made up and they’re going off of old past habits,” one person said.

A body-language expert says it was obvious Thursday’s debate was lacking energy and enthusiasm, though there still was a winner.

“I think the undecided voter would probably lean towards Mark Carney tonight. Last night, I think they might have leaned towards Pierre Poilievre, but tonight, some of his Trumpian attitudes and senses and feelings came out a little bit,” said Robyn T. Braley.

The premier’s office says Danielle Smith was watching for conversation about energy projects and she got a lot of it—mainly from Poilievre.

Weekend polls will show if it made a dent in his numbers.

“Given that Carney has an edge in the polls, and given that it really didn’t move the needle, it doesn’t matter that he lost the debate. He didn’t lose it decisively,” Bratt said.

Advance polling opens Friday.

Election day is April 28.

Polling numbers show Wednesday’s French debate didn’t seem to move the needle much.

The Liberals still lead by just five points.