A re-elected Liberal government would subsidize new hiring by Canadian businesses to juice the economic recovery and the Conservatives’ promise to scrap child-care deals with the provinces would make it harder for women to work, Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau argued in Wednesday night’s debate. His Tory counterpart Erin O’Toole said generous pandemic-era support programs are making it tough for small businesses to hire, and his plan for child-care tax credits will help more families than the Liberals’. (The Logic)

Talking point: The second of two French debates was muddier than the first last week, with a format that skipped from topic to topic and leaders focused on getting out clippable lines for Quebec audiences. This included Trudeau snapping at Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet that he doesn’t have a monopoly on speaking for Quebecers. The leaders will debate a third and final time tonight, in English, starting at 9 p.m. ET.