Imogen James
Live reporter, Washington DC

Image source, Adrian Wyld/POOL

Tonight was the final shot for the leaders from four major Canadian political parties to argue their case for becoming Canada's next prime minister.

We heard arguments from Mark Carney, Liberal Party leader, Pierre Poilievre, Conservative Party leader, Jagmeet Singh, New Democratic Party leader and Yves-FrançoisBlanchet, Bloc Québécois leader.

It was fiery, quick - and very patriotic. They spoke on issues of security, tariffs, housing and the cost-of-living.

The United States - and President Donald Trump's threat to absorb Canada as the 51st state - also got a lot of attention.

Now, all eyes look ahead to the election in 11 days.

Though the leaders will get no more chances to take on their opponents face-to-face, they will continue heavy campaigning.

If you want a journalistic nightcap, we've summarised the key takeaways from the final leadership debate.

Thanks for joining us, and goodnight.

This page was edited by Jenna Moon and Caitlin Wilson. Lyse Doucet, Jessica Murphy and Nadine Yousif reported from Montreal and Toronto, and Imogen James, Ali Abbas Ahmadi and Kwasi Gyamfi Asiedu contributed blow-by-blow coverage from Washington DC and Toronto.

That debate went by pretty fast - in case you blinked and missed it, here were the main themes.

Trump's tariffs and the Canada-US relationship were up first

• All four major party leaders were in agreement that Canada must stand strong to fight back
• Liberal leader Mark Carney touted the counter-tariffs his new government has put in place
• Conservative Pierre Poilievre said his government would cut taxes and red tape and approve new projects to bolster Canada's economy in the face of Trump's looming threat
• Singh described the relationship breakdown as "a betrayal"
• Blanchet advocated for Quebec retaining autonomy over some decisions with the US

The leaders gave their philosophies on governing in a crisis

• The candidates offered their plans for how to tackle the multiple challenges facing Canada, including the housing shortage to inflation to dealing with Donald Trump

• On Ukraine, Poilievre said while he supports aid for Kyiv, he also wants to rebuild Canada's military
• Carney said Canada must be prepared for the worst case scenario - which he defined as the US trying to take over the country. Canada would need to respond with overwhelming force in such a crisis, he said
• In a brief fiery exchange, Singh attacked Poilievre's record as housing minister during the previous Conservative government

Carney took the most heat

• Blanchet and Singh targeted Carney for his work as chairman at Brookfield Asset Management, a Canadian investment firm now headquartered in New York
• Singh accused the company of contributing to Canada's housing crisis
• Blanchet hit out at Carney's proposed solutions to the housing crisis - such as prefab homes - saying they are an effort to benefit Brookfield, the company because it invests in the building industry

Looking to get up to speed on how the debate tonight may have moved the needle in Canada's general election?

The BBC's Chief International Correspondent Lyse Doucet breaks it down - in 88 seconds.

So, who won?published at 03:18 British Summer Time 18 April

03:18 BST 18 April

Jessica Murphy
Reporting from Montreal

It's always the key debate question - and often it's a mixed bag: some good shots get taken, some don't land.

Tonight, all four on stage managed to hold their ground, with Liberal leader Mark Carney facing the most attacks.

He kept his head despite the pile-on and was ready with an answer.

It's now up to Canadians to decide if they like his answers.

Pierre Poilievre was able to make his case for change, sometimes touching on his own personal story while keeping up pressure on Carney.

The NDP's Jagmeet Singh and the Bloc's Yves Francois Blanchet needed to prove to Canadians - worried about the country's future as it faces down tariff threats from the US - that they are relevant as third parties.

As of tonight, there are just 11 days to go until the Canadian federal election is held. So what's next?

Beginning tomorrow, early voting will open across the country for four days.

At the same time, Canadians will be enjoying a national holiday for Easter - surely appreciated by campaign-worn politicians (but expect them to continue campaigning hard over the long weekend).

The deadline to apply to vote by mail is then on 22 April.

Then comes the big day: Canadians head to the polls on 28 April.

Nadine Yousif
North America reporter, in Toronto

A big question heading into the debate was whether Liberal leader Mark Carney, who has been leading comfortably in the polls, would stumble.

Carney had managed to survive Wednesday's French debate despite his shaky French language skills.

On Thursday, he was put on the spot numerous times by his three opponents.

From the ghost of a former prime minister to a fight for air time - here's what we're taking away from tonight's debate.

Jessica Murphy
Reporting from Montreal

While the debate commission did not give a reason for the cancelled scrums, the tension in the media room was high.

A number of reporters pointed the finger at Rebel News, who along with other right-wing media groups, dominated questions after yesterday's French-language debates.

Rebel had pressed the commission for more access for its reporters.

NDP leader Jagmeet Singh refused to take questions from Rebel News, accusing the organisation of spreading disinformation.

CBC News also reported that Michel Cormier, of the commission, had been unaware that Rebel News and another organisation run by its founder was registered as a third-party, external in the election.

There was also some frustration with the lack of clarity from the debates commission.

The commission also faced pressure from the Green Party for excluding it from the debate for failing to meet a candidate threshold.

A polite start, but each leader holds firmpublished at 02:14 British Summer Time 18 April

02:14 BST 18 April

Lyse Doucet
Chief international correspondent

It was a polite start, with four leaders welcoming each other and agreeing on the need to stand up to President Donald Trump’s threats.

But each had a particular tactic to press home their talking points. Poilievre kept pointing to a decade of Liberal rule as the root of all Canada’s problems. Carney tried to draw a very clear line between himself and Justin Trudeau with policies which drew on his years of experience as a banker and economist.

Singh's answers kept bringing it back to the lives of Canadians with stories from his own trips to the grocery store to the worries of healthcare workers.

Blanchet was the punchiest, accusing his rivals of everything from "very creative numbers" to nonsense and fairy tales.

Their differences were highlighted when each leader was asked to name the top security threat. Poilievre chose rampant gun crime, Carney mentioned China, Singh highlighted illegal guns and drugs and cuts to social services, and Blanchet cited security dependence on the US.

This debate underlined how Canada confronts issues facing countries everywhere – a housing crisis; a climate emergency, immigration pressures, gun crime, President Trump’s tariffs and more. "In a crisis you need a team," Carney emphasized, but asked: "Who will lead?"

This debate will have helped Canadians make up their mind.

Ali Abbas Ahmadi
Reporting from Toronto

I've just spoken to Andrew Flostrand, a university instructor at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia - a province that has suffered from climate-related disasters over the past few years.

Flostrand says he was "comforted" to hear all the leaders recognise that climate change is a "real priority" and proposed practical policies.

He says he would have liked to hear both Mark Carney and Pierre Poilievre plan a path towards Canada's "no-oil era".

Canada is dependent on hydrocarbon revenues "but the end of that model is on the horizon", Flostrand adds.

He says Carney mentioned renewable energy, but didn't address how Canada would address the decline in revenue once it can no longer depend on oil and gas.

Jessica Murphy
Reporting from Montreal

We're hearing a little more now from Michel Cormier, of the Leaders' Debates Commission, about why the post-debate scrums have been cancelled.

He tells reporters that the commission "cannot guarantee a proper environment" for these media question-and-answer sessions.

Journalists are shouting questions, but he hasn't answered any and quickly leaves.

That was a very intense, very wordy, two hours.

But the debate has now ended, earlier than expected, because as we reported the media question segment has been cancelled.

Stick with us for some analysis and recaps, going over what's just happened.

Image source, Reuters

It's almost finished. Closing statements now.

Singh: If the New Democratic party are voted into power, they will make life more affordable for Canadians and defend Canada.

Carney: They are facing the "biggest crisis of our lifetimes", citing Donald Trump, who wants to own them. He will stand up against this and protect Canada.

Blanchet: Quebec and Canada as a whole should be economic partners, and he can be the voice to put them as equals in front of Trump.

Poilievre: He cites worries about danger and the cost of living. It doesn't have to be this way, and his party will restore the Canadian promise so hard work is rewarded with a safe street and beautiful house.

Image source, Reuters

Next, Paikin asks all the candidates what their biggest regret has been over the campaign.

Yves-Francois Blanchet - He says all the leaders should have been quicker to discuss how Quebec and Canada would be partners to deal with Trump.

Jagmeet Singh - The NDP leader regrets not being able to meet as many people as he would have wanted to because it's such a short campaign.

Mark Carney - He says Canada is an amazing country, and regrets not being able meet Canadians across the country over such a short period of time.

Pierre Poilievre - Like his Liberal and NDP counterparts, Poilievre says he was unable to "hear the stories" and "learn the struggles" of everyone who came to his rallies.

Image source, Getty Images

Carney is now asking a question, as opposed to answering it. He first jokes he will ask himself a question, getting a laugh from the moderator.

He goes on to outline what he sees as threats to Canada, including China, Russia and the United States.

To Conservative leader Poilievre, he says it is 950 days since he has had the chance to get top secret security plans. He has refused. Why?

Poilievre says he has his clearance, but if he got the briefings then he would be gagged under the security law.

He says to do his job he needs to be able to speak freely without fear of prosecution, which he could not do if gagged.

Image source, Reuters

Poilievre's also uses his Leader's Choice question to go after Carney.

He attacks the Liberal Party's economic policies, which he describes as the reason for the "lost Liberal decade" and asks Carney to apologise to debate viewers for inflation.

Carney reminds Poilievre he is not Justin Trudeau, a line he has deployed more than once in this debate.

Carney is pitching himself as an economic stabiliser in an uncertain time, and in response to Poilievre's attacks, touts his time as the central banker in England and Canada.

Carney says the way to judge his record is to look at his time as Bank of Canada boss.

"Inflation was less than 2%, our dollar was at parity (with the US). That is the kind of success I can deliver for this country."

Jessica Murphy
Reporting from Montreal

We've just heard that the usual post-debate scrums with the four leaders have been cancelled.

The debate commission has yet to comment publicly on why the leaders will not be taking questions from the media attending the match-up, or the reason for the cancellation.

After Wednesday's French-language debate, the leaders took about 10 minutes of questions from the media after the main debate.

We will bring you more on the reason for the cancellation when we have more information.

Carney faces pointed Brookfield questionspublished at 01:50 British Summer Time 18 April

01:50 BST 18 April

Jessica Murphy
Reporting from Montreal

Carney's time in the private sector has dogged him on the campaign trail - this is the first time he has had a chance to defend it one-on-one.

He has faced questions about his record at Brookfield Asset Management - a major Canadian investment firm - on its recent decision to move its HQ to New York and on funds he co-chaired that were registered in Bermuda, offering a tax advantage.

"Who's side are you really on?" NDP leader Singh asked Carney.

"Thank you very much for that question, Mr Singh," Carney responds, showing a flash of sarcasm. "I'm on the side of Canadians."

But he later goes on argue for the firm: "This is a Canadian success story."

He says its investments support people from all walks of life across the country.

Jagmeet Singh, NDP leader, is first up in leaders' choice.

He says Carney, who is chair of Brookfield Investments, is one of the biggest tax-dodgers in Canada. He expects this of the Conservatives, but not the Liberals.

He asks Carney: Whose side are you really on?

"I'm on the side of Canadians," Carney says.

He has a track record of public service for Canada, Carney says, and says he is also proud of his career in the private sector.

But Singh pushes back: Who have you served? He says the Liberals have prioritised not people, but billionaires.

Carney defends the Liberals record, and says they will build the country "in a way that has not been seen before".

Yves-Francois Blanchet also attacks Mark Carney for his role at Brookfield.

He says Carney wants to support the oil and gas industry, prefab housing, nuclear reactors - all things that Brookfield invests in - and accuses the Liberal leader of "hiding" billions of the company's dollars in Bermuda and the Cayman islands. Will you reveal the details of all your assets before the election? he asks Carney.

Mark Carney says Brookfield is a "Canadian success story", saying Canadian and Quebec pensioners, firefighters, and all Canadians benefit from its investments. He says he always "acted with integrity" and followed all the rules.

"Tell us what you own!" Blanchet replies.

Image source, Reuters

On immigration, Poilievre criticises the Liberal government's policies, which he says has led to overcrowding and a housing shortage.

"We have to get back to normal levels of immigration," he says.

The segment concludes, with the next round called "Leaders' Choice." Each party leader gets to ask one other leader one question.

Carney becomes the target for most of the others' questions.

The debate moves to the war in Gaza. Here's what the leaders say:

Pierre Poilievre - Canada must condemn Hamas and the "terrorist sponsors" in Tehran. He says he defends the right of Palestinians to have their own lives free from the "oppression of Hamas, dictators and Iranian intervention" while Israel can live in freedom and peace.

Jagmeet Singh - The NDP leader says the Conservatives' treatment of Palestinians has been "disgusting". People in Israel and the Palestinians need to live in peace and security, says Singh. He says Carney has not "acknowledged that what's going on in Gaza has now clearly become a genocide".

Mark Carney - We need to work with international partners "for an immediate ceasefire" and a "return of all the hostages", he says. Carney supports a "viable and free Palestinian state living side by side in peace and security with the state of Israel". He adds that Iran needs to be checked by the international community.

Yves-Francois Blanchet - The Jewish community in Quebec and Canada is being harassed by "radical Islamists", he says. Canadian law doesn't do enough against those that "propose genocide against another people if they can be hidden behind religious motivation", he says, and Canada must change that internally before telling others what to do.