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MONTMAGNY — Liberal Leader Philippe Couillard conjured the memory of a combative Pierre Trudeau, pledged hefty pay raises for new teachers, and assured Bombardier workers their jobs were safe on a busy Wednesday on the campaign trail, on the south shore of the St-Lawrence River northeast of Quebec City.

“Just watch me,” Couillard said in Rivière-du-Loup Wednesday morning when asked what he would do if Canada decides to allow concessions on supply-management policies for dairy farmers in trade negotiations with the United States.

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He was evoking the words of former Liberal prime minister Trudeau to a journalist during the 1970 October Crisis. Three days later, Trudeau invoked the War Measures Act to quell dissidents in the province.

Couillard confirmed later he would be taking part in a conference call with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Canada’s other premiers Thursday afternoon to discuss the NAFTA trade talks.