The day after Canada’s federal election campaign officially got under way, the party leaders faced off for their first televised debate, with one conspicuous exception — prime minister Justin Trudeau was a no-show.

While the leaders of three national parties sparred over topics such as the economy, indigenous issues and the environment, a podium put out for Mr Trudeau stood empty. Prior to the debate, Green party leader Elizabeth May pretended to shake hands with an invisible Mr Trudeau.

“I think we can all agree that Justin Trudeau is afraid of his record and that’s why he’s not here tonight,” said Conservative leader Andrew Scheer, who is trailing Mr Trudeau narrowly in the polls.

Mr Trudeau’s decision to stay away from Thursday night’s debate was widely seen as reflective of a government struggling to reconcile the grand promises he made in 2015 about change and transparency in government with the reality of the past four years.