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The first debate of the Conservative leadership race kicked off Wednesday night with the two front−runner candidates handed a question easy for them to tackle — even if doing so in French wasn’t.
Erin O’Toole and Peter MacKay were asked to debate how they’d support the armed forces. O’Toole served in the Air Force, while MacKay was the defence minister in the last Conservative government.
Both spoke to their record and connection to the file, before turning on each other.
O’Toole pushed MacKay for not delivering new fighter jets under the previous Conservative government. MacKay responded that he had delivered on other procurement promises.
None of the four candidates in the race — O’Toole, MacKay, Derek Sloan and Leslyn Lewis — speak French as their first language.
Lewis appeared to be reading directly from written notes as she tackled questions, all of which were submitted by party members.