Encounter '84

TV Special
1984
1h 56m

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The official leaders' debate for the 1984 Canadian federal election.The official leaders' debate for the 1984 Canadian federal election.The official leaders' debate for the 1984 Canadian federal election.

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See production info at IMDbPro

YOUR RATING

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See production info at IMDbPro

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Trivia
Generally seen as a major turning point for the official leaders' debates ahead of Canadian general elections. The first such debate in 1968, and later Encounter '79 (1979), had been little-watched and were regarded as having made no real impact on their respective elections, but Brian Mulroney's stinging "You had an option, sir" rebuke to John Turner over his patronage appointments was credited both with winning the election for the Progressive Conservatives and ensuring much greater attention was paid to future debates.

Quotes
Brian Mulroney: You, sir, owe the Canadian people a deep apology for having indulged in that kind of practice with those kinds of appointments.
John Turner: Well, I've told you, and I've told the Canadian people, Mr. Mulroney, that I had no option.
David Johnston: Mr. Trueman, your next question...
Brian Mulroney: You had an option, sir! You could have said "I am not going to do it, this is wrong for Canada, and I am not going to ask Canadians to pay the price." You had an option, sir, to say no, and you chose to say "yes" to the old attitudes and the old stories of the Liberal Party. That, sir, if I may say respectfully, is not good enough for Canadians.
John Turner: I had no option. If I was able...
Brian Mulroney: That is an avowal of failure! That is a confession of non-leadership, and this country needs leadership. You had an option, sir. You could have done better!