Good evening, iPolitics readers.

Welcome to our debate live blog, where we will be running down all the events from tonight’s English-language debate.

Want a recap of the day’s events? Sign up for Campaign Countdown, our now daily newsletter devoted to covering everything about the 2025 federal election.

7:20 p.m.

The debate is underway and already sparks are flying. The first discussion round was intended to focus on Canada’s response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs, but it quickly transitioned into a chippy exchange about pipelines.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre criticized Liberal Leader Mark Carney for failing to repeal Bill C-69, also known as the Impact Assessment Act, which he has long-described as the “anti-pipeline law.”

In response, Carney touted the Liberal government’s purchase and construction of the Trans Mountain pipeline, decisions that were made under his predecessor, Justin Trudeau.

Meanwhile, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh jabbed Carney and Poilievre, and said the duo was competing to see which party is more “pro-pipeline,” and instead advocated for a cross-country clean electricity grid.

6:40 p.m.

The countdown is on.

We’re 20 minutes away from the start of the English-language leaders’ debate, where Liberal Leader Mark Carney, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, and Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet will make their party’s pitch to Canadians.

Green Co-Leader Jonathan Pedneault was also originally expected to participate in tonight’s debate, but was abruptly dropped from the invite list on Wednesday, only hours before the French-language event.

According to the draft programme from CBC/Radio-Canada, which was selected to produce both the French and English sessions, the “main editorial themes” for tonight’s back-and-forth will be similar, although not identical, to those on deck during last night’s go-round in French:

• Affordability and the cost of living
• Energy and climate
• Leading in a crisis
• Public safety and security
• Tariffs and threats to Canada

Meanwhile, TVO anchor Steve Paikin will be in the moderator’s chair when the debate gets underway in Montreal.

We’ll have more updates for you as the night progresses.