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LONDON, Ont. — Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau says Stephen Harper is trying to win the election with a “reckless” strategy of dividing Canadians over the niqab, and that his father, the late Pierre Trudeau, would be dismayed by what is happening and relish the chance to talk about Canada’s history of rights and freedoms.

Trudeau made the remarks in an interview Wednesday as the campaign enters its final days, and as his party enjoys a boost in public support.

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He spoke about why he thinks voters seeking change, as well as a plan to benefit the middle class, should support him instead of NDP Leader Tom Mulcair. He said he fears Harper’s Conservatives might draw Canada into a ground war against ISIL in the Middle East.

But it was Harper’s stance on the niqab that drew strong words from Trudeau, who has been critical of the prime minister since Harper said last February that Muslim women should not wear the face covering at their citizenship ceremony because it’s “offensive” and it’s “not how we do things here.”