Ottawa - Canada's Prime Minister, Mr Jean Chretien, and its main opposition leader were set for a sparring match in a televised debate last night that could go a long way to deciding who will win the November 27th general election.
Mr Chretien will try to use the English-language debate to portray Mr Stockwell Day, leader of right-wing Canadian Alliance party, as an extremist who wants to destroy what Canadians hold dear. Mr Day, whose low-tax, tough-on-crime party wants to transfer some of Ottawa's powers to Canada's 10 provinces, will accuse Mr Chretien of presiding over a wasteful government that has consistently broken its promises.