In the French-language debate Wednesday night in Ottawa, the minority Conservative leader came under fire from Liberal Stephane Dion, New Democratic Party leader Jack Layton, Bloc Quebecois chief Gilles Duceppe and Green Party leader Elizabeth May.

Layton, the socialist NDP leader, at one point likened Harper's conservative leadership methods to the outgoing U.S. president, the Globe and Mail reported.

"Your policies are the same as those of George Bush," Layton said.

The newspaper said Harper "stuck to his message that 'Canada is not the United States' and Canadians should stay the course."

One of the most acerbic barbs came from Dion, the Toronto Star said.

"You consider political opponents as enemies. You've reduced the level of democracy in Canada," Dion said.

The five meet again Thursday night in Ottawa for a debate in English.