Liberal Leader Kathleen Wynne, Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak and NDP Leader Andrea Horwath are in CBC’s Toronto studio tonight for the one and only debate of the 2014 Ontario election. It was 90 minutes long and was hosted by TVO’s Steve Paikin.

The format: video questions from citizens of Ontario that the leaders must respond to.

Follow Globe reporters Sahar Fatima, Adrian Morrow, Adam Radwanski and Kaleigh Rogers on Twitter.

Click here for a quick summary of where the parties stand on the important issues. And for subscribers, here’s our latest analysis of the very up-and-down Ontario polls.

 

First round: ethics

A resident of Guelph, in southwestern Ontario, got the first question: How can I trust a Liberal government with my money, given scandals involving wasted money, such as the gas-plants cancellations?  It was addressed to Ms. Wynne, and Ms. Horwath had a chance to debate the issue with her. Mr. Hudak leapt in at the end.

Wynne: decision around gas plants was wrong. "There was public money that was wasted in those decisions and that shouldn't have happened."

— Sahar Fatima (@sahar_fatima) June 3, 2014

Horwath responds "This debate is exactly about cleaning up corruption." "The Liberals have betrayed you." #ONdebate

— Sahar Fatima (@sahar_fatima) June 3, 2014

It took Horwath about 20 words to get to "corruption," I think. #ONdebate

— Adam Radwanski (@aradwanski) June 3, 2014

.@AndreaHorwath calls @Kathleen_Wynne's pension a "Harper-style private pension plan." It's actually more likely to be a non-profit

— Adrian Morrow (@AdrianMorrow) June 3, 2014

Also worth noting: @AndreaHorwath actually proposed the pension plan that @Kathleen_Wynne is now putting forward. #ONdebate

— Adrian Morrow (@AdrianMorrow) June 3, 2014

Hudak finally enters the debate. Says Wynne's apologies are just an act "They're going to do it again." #ONdebate

— Sahar Fatima (@sahar_fatima) June 3, 2014

Hudak now pressing Wynne on why she didn't say no during gas plant decisions. Wynne says she did not direct all of the decisions

— Sahar Fatima (@sahar_fatima) June 3, 2014

In case you're curious what this contract is they are referring to: cabinet signed off on a mandate to negotiate with the company (1/2)

— Adrian Morrow (@AdrianMorrow) June 3, 2014

building one of the gas plants. Wynne was one of the cabinet ministers who signed the negotiating mandate. (2/2)

— Adrian Morrow (@AdrianMorrow) June 3, 2014

 

Second round: energy

A resident from Ajax, in the Greater Toronto Area, asked the leaders about keeping electricity prices low. It was addressed to Ms. Horwath and Mr. Hudak had a chance to debate it with her. Ms. Wynne jumped in after.

Ethics followed by affordable energy as first two questions are not exactly a dream come true for Wynne. #ONdebate

— Adam Radwanski (@aradwanski) June 3, 2014

Horwath says NDP would collapse four different electricity agencies and save bureaucrat salaries #ONdebate

— Sahar Fatima (@sahar_fatima) June 3, 2014

Gas plants are a big part of the debate so far — here's how I explained the issue in under 2 minutes http://t.co/dsy4IHODX3 #voteon

— Chris Hannay (@channay) June 3, 2014

Hudak says one of the reason energy bills have risen is because of Liberals' gas plant scandal. He will cut off subsidies for wind energy

— Sahar Fatima (@sahar_fatima) June 3, 2014

Hudak's 40,000 jobs from cheaper hydro is predicated on hydro rates going down to the Canadian average, which is unlikely. #ONdebate

— Adrian Morrow (@AdrianMorrow) June 3, 2014

The Liberals are planning to scrap the clean energy benefit, too, not only the Tories. #ONdebate

— Adrian Morrow (@AdrianMorrow) June 3, 2014

Twenty minutes in and Hudak drops his first reference to the Million Jobs plan. A lot to fact-check there, but suffice to say: (1/2)

— Adrian Morrow (@AdrianMorrow) June 3, 2014

Besides Hudak's arithmetic error on some of the plan, most economists will tell you that you can't guarantee that specific a numbers of jobs

— Adrian Morrow (@AdrianMorrow) June 3, 2014

One-liner from Horwath: "You don't have to choose between bad ethics and bad math" #onpoli #voteon

— Kaleigh Rogers (@KaleighRogers) June 3, 2014

Wynne's doing better on energy than she did on ethics, though that's not saying a great deal. #ONdebate

— Adam Radwanski (@aradwanski) June 3, 2014

 

Third round: jobs

A resident from Peterborough, in central Ontario, asked Mr. Hudak: how do you reconcile eliminating 100,000 public-sector jobs with your “One Million Jobs Plan”?

I'm somewhat doubtful that, per Hudak, for most employers provincial debt is the single biggest concern. #ONdebate

— Adam Radwanski (@aradwanski) June 3, 2014

Hudak says vast majority of jobs he'll reduce will be due to retirement #ONdebate

— Sahar Fatima (@sahar_fatima) June 3, 2014

Wynne says Hudak's basically saying he would have walked away from the auto sector when it was in trouble

— Sahar Fatima (@sahar_fatima) June 3, 2014

Hudak says if he can't meet his job-creation goals as premier, he'll resign. #onpoli #voteon

— Kaleigh Rogers (@KaleighRogers) June 3, 2014

Horwath says her party will reduce small business taxes #ONdebate

— Sahar Fatima (@sahar_fatima) June 3, 2014

"It's sad that Alberta's biggest export is oil and ours is the next generation," Hudak says, because youth going west for jobs #ONdebate

— Sahar Fatima (@sahar_fatima) June 3, 2014

 

Fourth round: the budget

A resident of Waterloo, in southwestern Ontario, asks Ms. Wynne: what would you cut from the government to balance the budget?

Asked how she'll eliminate deficit, Wynne says she'll increase income tax on top 2% earners and make investments to grow economy #onpoli

— Kaleigh Rogers (@KaleighRogers) June 3, 2014

It's true the Liberal budget plan projects constraining spending, but it isn't entirely clear where all the constraint will come #ONdebate

— Adrian Morrow (@AdrianMorrow) June 3, 2014

I don't think it's fair to go to somebody workiing at Costco to help raise wages for public sector workers, Hudak says.

— Sahar Fatima (@sahar_fatima) June 3, 2014

Hudak says he will start by freezing politicians' wages, which has upset OPP union

— Sahar Fatima (@sahar_fatima) June 3, 2014

Wynne says Ontario's program spending per capita is lowest in Canada

— Sahar Fatima (@sahar_fatima) June 3, 2014

Another tale from Hudak. "Let me tell you a story. My grandfather…" talks about losing family farm to debt #onpoli #voteon

— Kaleigh Rogers (@KaleighRogers) June 3, 2014

This is a constant point of debate: how much of Drummond report did the Liberals implement? Difficulty is that they partly implemented (1/2)

— Adrian Morrow (@AdrianMorrow) June 3, 2014

some provisions but didn't go all the way. Drummond himself has said they've picked low-hanging fruit but not many big structural changes

— Adrian Morrow (@AdrianMorrow) June 3, 2014

Hudak asks Wynne what she "regrets the most" about her "legacy" with McGuinty. Wynne instead says what she's proud of #onpoli #voteon

— Kaleigh Rogers (@KaleighRogers) June 3, 2014

Horwath says NDP will modestly raise corporate tax rates. Will stay competitive but help achieve goals

— Sahar Fatima (@sahar_fatima) June 3, 2014

All three leaders gesticulating, but Wynne especially. Seems to be common for first-time debaters #onpoli #voteon

— Kaleigh Rogers (@KaleighRogers) June 3, 2014

 

Fifth round: transit

A resident of Cobourg, outside Toronto, asked why drivers should subsidize the costs of major public transit projects in Toronto.

Horwath says she'll reduce auto insurance rates by 15%

— Sahar Fatima (@sahar_fatima) June 3, 2014

Wynne says $15-billion investment for transportation will be for GTA and Hamilton while $14 billion will be for outside those areas

— Sahar Fatima (@sahar_fatima) June 3, 2014

The short answer to this viewer's question — will non-Torontonians pay for Toronto transit — is "no." But Wynne somehow couldn't say that

— Adrian Morrow (@AdrianMorrow) June 3, 2014

This might be @Kathleen_Wynne's biggest problem — she tries to squeeze so much into an answer, she can't give the easy answer. #ONdebate

— Adrian Morrow (@AdrianMorrow) June 3, 2014

.@AndreaHorwath is correct, the Liberals did cut (or "delay") some Transit City spending.

— Adrian Morrow (@AdrianMorrow) June 3, 2014

The Grits are paying for the Eglinton, Sheppard and Finch LRTs, but they delayed the Jane, Don Mills and other Transit City LRTs

— Adrian Morrow (@AdrianMorrow) June 3, 2014

Hudak says Liberals didn't build a single subway stop in 11 years. Doesn't mention TO local government kept ripping up plans #onpoli #voteon

— Kaleigh Rogers (@KaleighRogers) June 3, 2014

 

Sixth round: education

A resident of Newmarket, part of the Greater Toronto Area, asked Mr. Hudak what he would do for high-school students and for teachers’ job security.

Hudak says he will encourage colleges to go into high schools and open up students' eyes to skills trade

— Sahar Fatima (@sahar_fatima) June 3, 2014

The exchanges between @timhudak and @AndreaHorwath are a lot less raucous than when either of them is going after @Kathleen_Wynne #ONdebate

— Adrian Morrow (@AdrianMorrow) June 3, 2014

Hudak telling emotional story about boy with special needs getting high school diploma. Says he'll help people with special needs get jobs

— Sahar Fatima (@sahar_fatima) June 3, 2014

Horwath says her plan will keep schools open in the evenings so the facilities can be used by the community

— Sahar Fatima (@sahar_fatima) June 3, 2014

Worth noting: Wynne and Horwath make it sound like front-line workers will be first to go under Hudak. But he's mostly targeting admin staff

— Adrian Morrow (@AdrianMorrow) June 3, 2014

Final statements

At the end, all three leaders had a chance to make their final pitches to Ontarians watching.

Closing statements, starting with Hudak. "I think that the choice tonight is crystal clear and so is my message. Hope is on the way."

— Sahar Fatima (@sahar_fatima) June 3, 2014

.@timhudak's "Million Jobs" plan stretches over eight years. So, if it were to not work and he were to resign, he'd still get two terms.

— Adrian Morrow (@AdrianMorrow) June 3, 2014

Horwath's turn. Says no choice between corruption and firing people "You can choose a party that respects you with a plan that makes sense."

— Sahar Fatima (@sahar_fatima) June 3, 2014

Hudak made a clear pitch in his closing statement. Good luck trying to summarize Horwath's. #ONdebate

— Adam Radwanski (@aradwanski) June 3, 2014

"I don't know all of you, but I've met a lot of you," Wynne says to Ontarians in closing statement #onpoli #voteon

— Kaleigh Rogers (@KaleighRogers) June 3, 2014

.@Kathleen_Wynne is correct: she does not know all of you. #ONdebate

— Adrian Morrow (@AdrianMorrow) June 3, 2014

Leaders arrive

Before the action began, the leaders arrived at CBC’s office in Toronto to prepare for the debate — and there were big crowds waiting to greet them.

Enterprising young Tory brought a megaphone . PCs taunting Liberals with chants of "baiiiilout!" and "gaaaaasplants!" pic.twitter.com/rdmoVIlsoe

— Adrian Morrow (@AdrianMorrow) June 3, 2014

…aaand the young Tories are tossing Mars bars at the young Liberals now. The gloves are off and we're still 30 minutes to the debate.

— Adrian Morrow (@AdrianMorrow) June 3, 2014

Horwath last of party leaders to arrive for the debate. Can't really see her but plenty of screaming https://t.co/QODEPxyTfO

— Sahar Fatima (@sahar_fatima) June 3, 2014

Leaders just arrived on set for the debate. Getting set up at their podiums with Steve Paikin pic.twitter.com/oiXsENrIfr

— Sahar Fatima (@sahar_fatima) June 3, 2014