Monday night’s foreign policy leaders’ debate was a feisty one, with all three major party leaders fighting to show Canadians that they are best suited to represent the country on the world stage.

From tributes to zingers, here are some highlights from the debate.

Trudeau’s tribute to his father

Early on the debate, NDP Leader Tom Mulcair criticized Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau’s father’s response to the October Crisis in 1970, when Pierre Elliot Trudeau enacted the War Measures Act, giving police the power to arrest people without warrant.

Trudeau quickly defended his father’s values and legacy, including his support for the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, multiculturalism and bilingualism.

“Throughout this campaign in direct references and indirect references, both of these gentlemen (Conservative Leader Stephen Harper and Mulcair) have at various points attacked my father,” said Trudeau. “Let me say very clearly: I am incredibly proud to be Pierre Elliot Trudeau’s son and am incredibly lucky to have been raised with those values.”

He also used the moment as an opportunity to call attention to the significance of Monday’s date.

“It’s quite emotional for me right now to be here talking about him because it was 15 years ago tonight that he passed away,” said Trudeau. “And I know that he wouldn’t want us to be fighting the battles of the past. He’d want us squarely focused on the future.”

The crowd burst into applause after Trudeau’s comments.

Questioning the value of citizenship

One of the most heated exchanges of the night took place between Trudeau and Harper on the issue of revoking Canadian citizenship from convicted terrorists.

It comes just days after it was announced Toronto 18 member Zakaria Amara became the first Canadian to have his citizenship revoked under Bill C-24, a controversial law passed last spring. Over the weekend, the Conservatives also leaked an audio recording of Trudeau criticizing Bill C-24.

Trudeau maintained his position Monday night, saying Canadians should be worried about a prime minister who can revoke citizenship. Harper questioned Trudeau’s judgement on the issue.

“Are you seriously saying, Mr. Trudeau, you will never be able to revoke citizenship from somebody? Is that your position?” said Harper, looking directly at Trudeau. “Why would we not revoke the citizenship of people convicted of terrorist offences against this country?”

Trudeau dove in, accusing Harper of playing up the politics of fear.

“A Canadian, is a Canadian, is a Canadian. You devalue the citizenship of every Canadian in this place and in this country when you break down and make it conditional for anyone,” he said.

Trudeau then said those convicted of terrorism offenses should be in jail -- a remark that was met with some boos.

Be afraid of ISIS, not CSIS

A good portion of Monday’s two-hour debate focused on the government’s recently-passed anti-terror bill, C-51. The legislation has been criticized by experts for undermining civil liberties and for its lack of parliamentary oversight of Canada’s security bodies.

The NDP and Liberals attacked Harper for the law’s infringement on civil liberties, to which Harper issued a snappy response that the crowd seemed to like.

“The threat we face today is not CSIS, it is ISIS,” said Harper.

The Conservative leader continued to vigorously defend his government’s legislation, while Mulcair attacked Trudeau for supporting the law that he says is a “real threat to our rights and freedoms.”

Mocking Harper

One of the most animated moments of the night was Trudeau’s attempt to mock Harper’s security concerns and Bill C-51.

“Mr. Harper, as we all know, in C-51, wants us to afraid that there’s a terrorist hiding behind every leaf and rock around us and we need to be afraid and that’s why he’s there to protect us,” said Trudeau, as the crowd laughed.

“Fortunately, the podiums are transparent.”

Mulcair’s zinger

As the debate began to wind down, a calm Mulcair used the opportunity to deliver one last zinger. The one-liner came as Trudeau tried to criticize Mulcair’s announcement of his climate change plan on Sunday.

“As you announced with tremendous strength and pomp, your climate change plan --,” said Trudeau, as Mulcair interrupted.

“Oh, I’ll leave the pomp to you, Justin,” said Mulcair.

Trudeau paused for a moment, shrugged the remark off, and finished his point.