Canadian Political Leaders Deliver Closing Arguments in Election Disrupted by Trump's Intervention
CANADIAN POLITICS HEATS UP AHEAD OF MONDAY'S ELECTION
Toronto, Canada - With merely two days left before the Canadian election, political leaders are crisscrossing the country, engaging in a fierce battle for votes. Prime Minister Mark Carney, for one, is heating things up by using US President Donald Trump as a major campaign issue.
A victory for Carney's Liberal Party would be nothing short of a political miracle. Just last January, the Liberals were trailing the Conservatives by an astounding 20 points in most polls, with Tory leader Pierre Poilievre looking set to take the prime minister seat. But all this changed when Trump launched a series of protectionist policies, sparking outrage among Canadians.
This outrage translated into booing the American anthem at sporting events, cancelling US travel plans, and fueling a dramatic turnaround in the polls. When Carney stepped up to take over from the unpopular Justin Trudeau in March, he claimed the US was trying to break Canada's spirit to take control - a message that seems to have resonated with many Canadians.
The 60-year-old, who has never held elected office but boasts a successful career as the head of the central banks of both Canada and Britain, argues his global financial experience makes him the ideal candidate to defend Canada against Trump's volatile trade policies.
Trump's tariffs, according to Carney, are a direct attack on Canadians and their country. While campaigning in Ontario on Saturday, he accused Poilievre of having no plan to stand up to Trump.
Poilievre, a 45-year-old parliamentarian for over two decades, is desperate to keep the focus on issues that driven anger towards the Liberals during Trudeau's decade in power, especially rising living costs. He has criticized Trump, but blames the weak economy on the Liberals' poor handling of the situation, making the election a referendum on change.
While polls project a Liberal government, the race has tightened in its final days. CBC's poll aggregator has at times given the Liberals a seven-to-eight point national lead, but on Friday it put Liberal support at 42.5 percent, with the Tories at 38.7, a significant narrowing.
A crucial factor that could help the Liberals is the sagging numbers for the left-wing New Democrats and the separatist Bloc Quebecois. In past elections, stronger support for these parties has curbed Liberal seat tallies in the key provinces of British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec.
A record 7.3 million of Canada's 28.9 million eligible voters cast early ballots over the Easter weekend, a 25 percent increase compared to 2021. Montreal voter Nathalie Tremblay told AFP that this election is "definitely more important" than past elections because of "everything that is happening in the United States."
Simon-Pierre Lepine, 49, told AFP he was worried about "10 more years of backtracking" under the Liberals, who he accused of plunging the country "into a financial hole."
This election is considered a strange one, with Conservative efforts to change the subject of the campaign away from Trump largely failing, and unexpected incidents like a security incident in Vancouver on the final campaign day shifting the media focus. Despite all the twists and turns, we'll finally know the winner on Monday night.
While Trump's political climate may have influenced this election cycle, historical tensions from his tenure may still linger in voter memory. However, recent reports indicate that reduced threats from Trump could inadvertently aid Conservatives by easing anti-Conservative sentiment tied to perceived U.S. policy alignment.
Regional dynamics also play a significant role. The Liberals lead by 8 points in Ontario, a critical battleground province with 121 seats, while they hold 40% support in Québec, significantly ahead of both the Bloc Québécois (25%) and Conservatives (24%). The Conservatives, on the other hand, dominate in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, while BC remains competitive.
If advance voting indicates anything, it's that record participation benefits the Liberals. A possible Liberal majority is also possible due to concentrated support in populous provinces. Other factors that could influence the outcome include the New Democrats’ collapse, which risks splitting the progressive vote, and the Bloc Québécois’ 25% support in Québec, limiting Conservative gains in the province.
- Prime Minister Mark Carney, in an effort to rally votes, has been using US President Donald Trump as a campaign issue, accusing Poilievre of having no plan to stand up to Trump's volatile trade policies.
- Booing of the American anthem at sporting events and declining US travel plans following Trump's protectionist policies have been significant factors in the dramatic turnaround in the Canadian polls.
- Justin Trudeau, the former Prime Minister, was criticized for plunging the country into a financial hole, leading to concerns about 10 more years of backtracking if the Liberals were to win the election.
- The Conservative Party, despite regional dominance in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, faces a challenge in Ontario, a crucial battleground province with 121 seats, where the Liberals lead by 8 points.
