MONTREAL

Federal leaders converge on Montreal in advance of French debate

The Canadian Press Published Tuesday, September 22, 2015 7:43AM EDT

Prime Minister Stephen Harper compares his hat to some blue paint with local candidate Harold Albrecht (right) during a campaign stop at a hardware store in St. Jacobs, ON. Monday, Sept. 21, 2105. (Ryan Remiorz / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

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OTTAWA -- Conservative Leader Stephen Harper starts his day in a riding that might well be regarded as a NDP fortress: Winnipeg Centre, where he's to make an announcement at a trucking and transportation company.

He is expected to focus on jobs and the economy in his announcement and reiterate that the Conservatives are the only ones who can properly steer the economy during these "dangerous and unstable" times.

Harper will be joined by three local candidates, two running in Conservative-held ridings (Elmwood-Transcona and Saint Boniface-Saint Vital) and one running in Winnipeg Centre, which has been held by New Democrat Pat Martin for six straight elections.

Martin had apologized last weekend for using what he called "intemperate" campaign language in recent days, although he did not say exactly what he was referring to.

Harper will end his day in Montreal ahead of the French leaders' debate later this week.

While Harper visits NDP territory, New Democrat Leader Tom Mulcair will begin his day on Tory-held turf.

Mulcair will be in Moncton, N.B., to make an announcement about improving Employment Insurance in the riding of Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe, which is currently under Conservative control.

Incumbent Robert Goguen won the seat in 2011 to end a Liberal stranglehold on the riding since 1988.

Following the announcement, Mulcair will head east to make a speech at the University of Ottawa.

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau will deliver a speech at a Montreal hotel in the riding of Laurier-Sainte-Marie, one of the Quebec ridings the New Democrats took from the Bloc Quebecois in the last election.

Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe held that riding for nearly 20 years before losing his seat to the NDP's Helene Laverdiere in the 2011 federal election.

Duceppe will continue trying to pry votes loose in Quebec today in a province where polls have suggested the NDP is doing well.

He will start his day with a speech to Quebec's main farmers' union in Longueuil before travelling to Victoriaville, Kingsey Falls, Chesterville and Saint-Hyacinthe.

The Greens' Elizabeth May will be in the nation's capital.

Among her media events will be an interview with the editorial board of the Ottawa Citizen.