OTTAWA—They are the high-stakes events of a campaign that can give even a veteran politician a bad case of the nerves.Just past the halfway point of the campaign, this election heads into a key phase with three debates — two French and one English — that will see Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau face his political rivals for the first time.These are key matchups that could influence voter intentions in the final weeks, especially ahead of Thanksgiving when advance polls open for Canadians to cast their ballots.“In a close election, the stakes are super high. If you’re in that spot and standing behind those podiums, I can only imagine how terrifying it is because it’s all on the line,” said Jason Lietaer, a former senior aide to Stephen Harper and now president of Enterprise, a firm that offers strategic communications.The first matchup happens Wednesday when Trudeau debates Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet in Montreal in a French debate organized by Quebec-based television network TVA.Two debates follow next week — an English debate on Monday and another French debate on Oct. 10 — that will feature those four leaders as well as Green party Leader Elizabeth May and Maxime Bernier, leader of the People’s Party of Canada.Asked about the debates and which rival he see as his adversary on stage, Trudeau insisted Tuesday that he doesn’t “see elections as being about adversaries.“I’m thinking of voters … Canadians will watch those debates… and they will make a choice, a choice on the direction they want the country to take,” he said.Speaking in Vancouver, Singh said he’s looking forward to finally being able to challenge the Liberal leader, who skipped an earlier debate.“I’m looking forward to having an opportunity to confront Mr. Trudeau because he has broken prom ...
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