The Latest: Federal election on Oct. 21, leaders kick off campaigns
OTTAWA — The latest developments as federal party leaders officially kick off campaigning for the Oct. 21 election (all times Eastern):
9:30 a.m.
Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer is taking aim at Justin Trudeau over the SNC-Lavalin affair ahead of the prime minister’s visit to Rideau Hall to officially launch the federal election campaign.
Scheer is calling Trudeau a “liar,” arguing the Liberal leader has lost the moral authority to govern and saying his goal for the next five weeks is to convince Canadians of that.
Much of his attack arises from a report in the Globe and Mail that cabinet confidentiality is preventing people from speaking to the RCMP as the force considers a possible investigation into obstruction of justice.
With the Conservative campaign plane behind him, Scheer also says he plans to spend the next five weeks or so talking to Canadians about the Tories’ platform.
Scheer is now off to Trois-Rivieres, Que., for his first campaign event.
Trudeau is scheduled to arrive at Rideau Hall at 10 a.m. to ask the Governor General to dissolve Parliament and call for a general election.
The Canadian Press