'That is simply not true': Trudeau goes after Harper for misleading attack at debate
Harper faces backlash after accusing rival parties of gunning to scrap pensioners' income splitting
Conservative Leader Stephen Harper faced a smackdown after he went after Liberals and the NDP during Thursday night's debate, accusing the other parties of aiming to cancel income splitting for seniors, a tax benefit measure his government introduced in 2007.
"We brought in income splitting for our pensioners, something the other parties oppose," Harper said.
- Canada election 2015: Harper defends economic, environmental record
- BALONEY METER | Would opposition parties scrap pension income splitting?
"Mr. Harper, that is simply not true," replied Trudeau, sparking a backlash against Harper's debate performance that galvanized the other three party leaders participating in the debate and provoked a response on social media.
"You're putting that in misleading attack ads and none of the other parties have talked about touching it, and I'm including Mr. Mulcair on income splitting," he went on, defending NDP Leader Tom Mulcair as well as himself.
Mulcair and Trudeau have both vowed to scrap the centrepiece of the Conservatives' family tax benefit package: allowing couples with young children to split their income for tax purposes.
But, there's been no evidence they'd kill it for pensioners.
Harper went on to say Trudeau is "philosophically" against income splitting.
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May also jumped in to question Harper's economic statistics.
"Mr. Prime Minister, you're cherry-picking your data," she said.
The series of exchanges prompted a wave of Twitter reaction.
May: You're cherry picking your data, Mr. Harper. Zing! She is extremely well-spoken about Harper's budget. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/elxn42?src=hash">#elxn42</a>
—@claddaughringFWIW: Elizabeth May was trending worldwide (not as high as Jennifer Aniston though). <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/macdebate?src=hash">#macdebate</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cdnpoli?src=hash">#cdnpoli</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/elxn42?src=hash">#elxn42</a> <a href="http://t.co/SptLnEjRQ2">pic.twitter.com/SptLnEjRQ2</a>
—@tcote<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MacDebate?src=hash">#MacDebate</a> is being won by <a href="https://twitter.com/ElizabethMay">@ElizabethMay</a> so far! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoGirl?src=hash">#GoGirl</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/laserfocusonissues?src=hash">#laserfocusonissues</a>
—@ablondebullitt<a href="https://twitter.com/ElizabethMay">@ElizabethMay</a> there is you <a href="https://twitter.com/CPC_HQ">@CPC_HQ</a> cherry picker <a href="http://t.co/IsN285hKaa">pic.twitter.com/IsN285hKaa</a>
—@anthonycross83How awesome is <a href="https://twitter.com/ElizabethMay">@ElizabethMay</a>? "With all due respect, Mr. Prime Minister, you're cherry picking your data!" She better be at every debate.
—@nicksteinburgShe's throwing MAYMAKERS! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/puns?src=hash">#puns</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/macdebate?src=hash">#macdebate</a> <a href="https://t.co/i4ZhLGIfOP">https://t.co/i4ZhLGIfOP</a>
—@DrEpidOthers noted that Harper was repeatedly called out by party leaders for misleading attacks on numerous topics.
"That's simply not true." - literally all the other party leaders at Harper
—@alisonsykoraHarper says Liberals against all projects. Trudeau says that simply not true. Inventing attacks. "You didn't get it done" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/macdebate?src=hash">#macdebate</a>
—@RosieBartonZinger of the night so far from Trudeau: "No one believes you!" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/macdebate?src=hash">#macdebate</a>
—@JonWisemanRepeatedly Harper is being told, "That's not true". Doesn't he get the hint yet that he's going to be called out? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cdnpoli?src=hash">#cdnpoli</a>
—@CndnSheepdog"Not true!" says Trudeau.
—@Justin_LingBut there were some who thought the frank, "That's not true," response was getting old.
If I hear <a href="https://twitter.com/JustinTrudeau">@JustinTrudeau</a> say "that's not true Mr. Harper" or "Nobody believes you" once more, I'm moving to Alaska... <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/macdebate?src=hash">#macdebate</a>
—@CharterLawWhile Mulcair escaped largely unscathed in the "cherry picking" reaction online, he did not escape the Twitterverse altogether.
Thomas Mulcair has been taught to 'smile with his eyes' And when he does it's terrifying. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/macdebate?src=hash">#macdebate</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/canpoli?src=hash">#canpoli</a> <a href="http://t.co/ElnyyUwcpk">pic.twitter.com/ElnyyUwcpk</a>
—@UinvitedU