NDP Leader Tom Mulcair and Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau are formidable opponents not to be counted out ahead of the 2015 federal election, former Progressive Conservative prime minister Brian Mulroney says.
Mulroney says all three leaders of the main political parties — including Prime Minister Stephen Harper — are "very tough and effective people," making the next federal election a big one.
In an interview with Evan Solomon, host of CBC Radio's The House, Mulroney warned the Conservatives not to underestimate the Liberal Party.
"The Liberals, you should never count out the Liberals ever," he said in an interview to air Saturday morning.
The former prime minister, whose party later merged with the Canadian Alliance to become the federal Conservatives, weighed the three current leaders' assets.
Sizing up the leaders
"[There's] Prime Minister Harper, who's tough, and able and a strong leader with a good economic record, you've got Justin Trudeau, who's attractive and young with a resilient political party behind them," Mulroney said.
"And Thomas Mulcair, who is probably the best Opposition leader since John Diefenbaker."
Mulroney says the election could hinge on the leaders' debate, referring to the moment where he thundered "You had an option, sir" at Liberal Leader John Turner, after Turner followed through on a raft of patronage appointments set in motion by his predecessor, Pierre Trudeau. Turner could only respond that he had no option.
"I think a lot is going to happen prior to the campaign of course, but in the television debates I think it could be a replay of what happened in 1984. There could be something significant happen. And I wouldn't count any of these people out. Because they're all extremely able. They can punch above their weight too. And all it takes is nine or 10 seconds in a television debate and the world has changed."