Federal leader debates dominate election campaign this week

The federal election campaign is going full tilt as candidates try to woe voters and leaders try to convince you their party is the one you should vote for. For voters who have made up their minds, advance polling gets under this Easter long weekend ahead of federal election day on Monday, April 28. Here's a look back at the week on the hustings. The first of the election's two debates was the French language debate in Montreal on Wednesday https://infotel.ca/newsitem/fedelxn-debate/cp475677140 . It was structured around the cost of living, energy and climate, identity and sovereignty, and immigration and foreign affairs. READ MORE: Federal election voter toolkit for Kamloops and the Okanagan https://infotel.ca/newsitem/federal-election-voter-toolkit-for-kamloops-and-the-okanagan/it108835 It was not without controversy before it even started as the Green party was kicked off the stage by the Leaders' Debate Commission for having candidates in less than 70% of the electoral districts. Dealing with U.S. President Donald Trump was a running theme for the remaining four federal party leaders Liberal Leader Mark Carney, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, NDP Leader Singh and the Bloc Québécois' Yves-François Blanchet. Even the debate moderator Patrice Roy cited the elephant in the room as he pitched questions on immigration, affordability and Canadian identity. The four traded barbs for two hours also sparring about pipelines and the economy. READ MORE: Federal electoral district changes in Kamloops, Okanagan https://infotel.ca/newsitem/in-video-federal-electoral-district-changes-in-kamloops-okanagan/it108825 The four party leaders are at it again tonight in Montreal for the second and final leaders' debate, this time in English. Political strategists said Carney would remain a target tonight after he emerged mostly unscathed from Wednesday’s event. For the latest on the debate go here https://infotel.ca/newsitem/fedelxn-debate/cp1503829740 . Canadian hockey fans will be able to vote in the upcoming federal election without having to give up any post-season action. The NHL released its first-round playoff schedule https://infotel.ca/newsitem/hkn-playoff-schedule/cp698420527 Thursday, with no Canadian teams in action on the day the country is set to go to the polls. Social media The TV show This Hour has 22 Minutes has been providing a satirical take on the federal election and none of the leaders of the big three parties has been spared. Forums Most of the all candidate forums have been held, except for the two new ridings in Kamloops. The Kamloops and District Chamber of Commerce is hosting a forum for both the Kamloops-Shuswap-Central Rockies and Kamloops-Thompson-Nicola electoral districts. The forums will be back-to-back online on April 22. The Kamloops-Shuswap-Central Rockies forum will start at 6 p.m. and the Kamloops-Thompson-Nicola forum will start at 7:30 p.m. Polling The current polls show the Liberals ahead of the Conservatives by several points and the NDP a distant third. For the latest polling, check out 338Canada https://338canada.com/ . It uses a statistical model of electoral projections based on opinion polls, electoral history and demographic data. Or check out the CBC News Poll Tracker https://newsinteractives.cbc.ca/elections/poll-tracker/canada/ . The Crown corporation says it uses every publicly available poll to come up with an average and weights the poll by sample size. Voting Elections Canada's website https://www.elections.ca/home.aspx is a great resource for more information or questions about how and where to vote in the election. For people without ID or a fixed address can be a challenge, but here's how they can https://infotel.ca/newsitem/fedelxn-homelessness-voting/cp624117065 . Advanced voting takes place over the Easter long weekend from Friday April 18 to Monday, April 21. Election day is Monday, April 28. To contact a reporter for this story, email Howard Alexander mailto:halexander@infonews.ca  or call 250-309-5343 or email the editor mailto:news@infonews.ca . You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom mailto:tip@infonews.ca  and be entered to win a monthly prize draw. Find our Journalism Ethics policy here https://infotel.ca/newsitem/code-of-ethics/it106782 . We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. SUBSCRIBE to our awesome newsletter here https://infotel.ca/newsletter .