“Your Liberal government for 10 years has the worst record on immigration, housing, and crime,” he said. “Aren’t you embarrassed to ask for a fourth term?”

Carney, freshly stepping into leadership, pushed back, highlighting his recent outreach efforts at home and abroad. But to many viewers, it was clear: the Liberals are carrying heavy baggage from the past decade — and Carney is struggling to distance himself from it. In addition, Carney’s tumultuous history with the Bank of England and recent accusations of diverting Brookfield’s assets to Bermuda to avoid paying Canadian taxes have tarnished his shiny “new Prime Minister” exterior.

If Carney had wanted to mark a true new beginning, he would have built a team that symbolized real change. Instead, his campaign is anchored by longtime Trudeau allies, like Tom Pitfield — a move that only cements the perception of “more of the same.” Nothing about Carney’s message sparks the bold vision Canadians are craving.

Right now, Canadians are standing at a crossroads. After a decade of Liberal governance, the desire for a fresh, revitalized direction is stronger than ever. Just as Stephen Harper’s Conservatives and the Chrétien-Martin Liberals were eventually sent packing after their long stints in power, it’s clear that renewal is not only normal — it’s healthy for democracy.

Poilievre understands this. He brought passion and energy to the debate stage, refusing to let tired ideas and recycled leadership go unchallenged. And he wasn’t alone. Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet chimed in powerfully, pointing out the obvious: swapping out the leader doesn’t magically erase years of the same ministers, the same policies, and the same status quo.