Key quotes from the French-language leaders' debate

Selected quotes from the French-language leaders debate Thursday:

"Mr. Mulcair, I will never tell my young daughter that a woman should cover her face because she's a woman."

Conservative Leader Stephen Harper on the niqab.

"The manufacturing sector is opposed to tax hikes proposed by the NDP and the Liberals and this is their position."

Harper on the economy.

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"Certainly, we must modify the Criminal Code in accordance with the Supreme Court decision and we will do so."

Harper on assisted-suicide legislation.

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"Mr. Harper is trying to hide his record behind the niqab."

NDP Leader Tom Mulcair.

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"Because these companies need infrastructure like roads and bridges, they must start to pay their fair share in taxes. But Mr. Harper has ... reduced taxes by tens of billions of dollars, the taxes paid by Canada's largest companies."

Mulcair on the economy

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"I can guarantee you one thing: the NDP will have a free vote; never would I muzzle anyone on it. That's why it must be a consultation that is real, large and sincere."

Mulcair on assisted suicide.

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"We all know why we're talking about this. It's because Mr. Harper and Mr. Duceppe want to play on fear and division."

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau on the niqab issue

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"The Liberal Party supports this because we understand that it's important to protect the most vulnerable, but also respect the rights and liberties of all."

Trudeau on assisted suicide.

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"We used to have respect in the world, and for the last 10 years we became less Canadian on the world scale."

Trudeau on Canada's place in the world under Harper's Conservatives

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"The first bill the Bloc Qubcois will introduce is forbidding voting whilewearing a face covering, oath of citizenship or granting services with a face covering."

Bloc Qubcois Leader Gilles Duceppe on the niqab.

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"What is the impact of the niqab on the economy? What is the impact of the niqab on climate change? What is the impact of the niqab on the jobless? It is a false debate meant as distraction from the real challenges for Canada."

Green Party Leader Elizabeth May on the niqab.