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François Legault went on the offensive in Thursday’s leaders’ debate, pouncing on a Liberal candidate’s inflammatory remarks about the Coalition Avenir Québec’s immigration policies to accuse Philippe Couillard of portraying his party as intolerant.

But Liberal Leader Philippe Couillard pulled his own fast one on the CAQ Leader, blasting him for failing to show up at a joint news conference of Quebec players standing up for the supply management system.

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In a lively and animated two-hour debate between the four candidates on Radio-Canada, sparks flew over the CAQ’s controversial plan to impose French and values tests on new arrivals and lower the level of immigration by 20 per cent.

As the evening was winding down, Legault tried to surprise Couillard by referring to remarks made by the Liberal candidate in the riding of Taillon, Mohammed Barhone, who recently delivered a speech in which he said the CAQ’s policies amount to “immigrant cleaning.”