Post-debate coverage after leaders square off in 1st debate

Stephen Harper, Tom Mulcair, Justin Trudeau and Elizabeth May squared off Thursday night in the first leaders' debate of the 2015 federal election campaign. 

This debate took place early in an unusually long election campaign — 11 weeks — but it was scheduled even before the election was called. The English-language leaders traded barbs and tried to present their vision in a debate that looked at the economy, the environment, the Senate and security.

• 5 things to watch for at the leaders' debate
• ANALYSIS: Harper the real target in this first leaders' debate
• Tom Mulcair paints NDP as only alternative to Conservatives
• Trudeau will win debate points 'if he comes on stage with his pants on': Tory spokesman

Tonight's debate is the first not to be organized by the broadcast consortium, of which CBC is a member, and could be the only English-language debate of the 2015 election campaign to have all four leaders of the major national parties.

​We'll have live coverage and discussion here throughout the night, including post-debate scrums.

You can also follow the live blog on our mobile-friendly version.