The result of a modern debate is always something of a blur. But what this year's encounters underlined is that this election is primarily about both two very different candidates for prime minister and two very different ideas of what the greatest threat to the country actually is.

Mark Carney will go head-to-head with Pierre Poilievre and Canada’s other political leaders in a general election debate tonight. Mr Carney, who took over from Justin Trudeau as Canadian prime minister last month, is likely to win enough seats to remain in office and win a fourth term for the Liberals, polling predicts.

Someone managed to steal Justin Trudeau’s thunder!It’s Mark Carney. The 24th prime minister of Canada and leader of the Liberal Party of Canada since 2025, who once worked with the former Canadian PM Justin Trudeau.