The late-night edition: From cross-talk to a sworn affidavit, tonight's debate had it all

Good evening,

Thank you faithful 506er readers, this is a late edition of our campaign newsletter. The leaders' debate has come to an end after 90 minutes of campaign talking points delivered in raised voices over everyone else.

We saw a key moment at the end of the debate, where Progressive Conservative Leader Blaine Higgssaidhe had a sworn affidavit indicating the Liberals tried to recruit him to be finance minister or deputy minister of finance. This is a reference to that time in 2014 when Higgs didn't rule out joining the Liberal cabinet.

So, that happened.

If you missed tonight's debate, don't worry, we have you covered. You can re-watch it on our website and you can also check out our special post-debate analysis show co-hosted by Terry Seguin and Julia Wright.

The day was fairly quiet before the debate. The Liberals and Progressive Conservativestook time away from their debate prep long enough to make a few announcements inMoncton.

As a reminder, you cannow sign up hereto very soon receive The506ernewsletter directly in your email inbox.

Top headlines

• Coverage of tonight's debate
  • If you want to impress your friends and colleagues with your debate analysis in the morning, you can get all the latest news from the first leaders' debate of the provincial election.
• Money for nothing and promises for free: a glut ofuncostedcampaign pledges
  • Dire Straits would approve that headline. Voters have been promised improved senior care, more public art, cheaper student loans lower apartment rent, frozen power rates and more so far. But at what cost?CBC'sRobert Jones looks at how as of Tuesday, 134 election promises have been made, but only 63 per cent have a cost estimate.

• Gallant promises to legislate pay equity in private sector
  • Premier Brian Gallant has taken another stab at pay equity, this time promising legislation that would extend it to big businesses despite the fizzling out of his 2014 campaign promise to expand the principle to part of the private sector.

From the trail

From CBC's KateLetterick...

I tagged along with several of the candidates in MonctonCentre as they went door-to-door fora recent story about the race inthat riding.

The experience offers a small glimpse of what it's like. First, there are lots of steps. You can quickly hit your daily step count quota.

Some of the candidates say they've gone to each residence in the ridingtwice, some are on their third go-around. That means a lot of flyers and doorstep chats.

It's a big riding, running along the north side of Mountain Road, over Wheeler Boulevard and up to the Trans-Canada Highway.

So going door-to-door to meet residentsmeans lots of walking. There's noneedto have another exercise program in place.

But there can also be some awkward moments.

At one house, Liberal candidate Rob McKeewokea man from his nap, but he was good-natured aboutit. It turned out the resident knew McKee and was happy to chat for a few minutes.

Many opinions are expressed, but for the most part, people are politeand listen carefully to the candidates.

Where the leaders were

Kris Austin:Began the day inTracyvillebefore attending the debate inRiverview.

David Coon:Spent the day preparing for the debate.

Brian Gallant:Monctonfor an announcement followed by the debate inRiverview.

BlaineHiggs:Also inMonctonfor an announcement prior to the debate.

Jennifer McKenzie:The party did not provide a schedule for the leader.

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