A Chinese market meltdown that caused global stocks to slide on Monday also touched off a flurry of finger-pointing and back-patting among party leaders on Canada's federal election campaign trail.
The gloomy economic news also spurred a conversation between Conservative Leader Stephen Harper and Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz on ongoing developments. While it's common for the prime minister and the Bank's governor to speak about the economy, it doesn't happen often during an election campaign.
While the Conservative leader pressed his party's fiscal record and warned that his opponents pose a "major risk" to Canada's economy, NDP Leader Tom Mulcair and Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau blamed the Tory government for failing to cushion the country from an external blow.
A statement from the Prime Minister's Office sent to reporters shortly before markets closed said Harper and Poloz discussed the decline in stock markets and commodity prices, slowing growth in China and emerging markets and the potential impacts on Canada's economy.
A senior campaign official told the media acknowledged it is unusual for the two to talk during a campaign but that it "reflects the seriousness of the situation."
A spokeswoman for the Bank of Canada confirmed Poloz's call with Harper on Monday but did not disclose details of the conversation.
