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Canadians head to polls in election upturned by Trump
Canadians are preparing to cast their votes in a pivotal federal election, significantly influenced by concerns over Donald Trump’s provocative stance on the nation’s sovereignty and the looming threats of a trade war.
As the month-long election campaign nears its conclusion, party leaders characterize this election as potentially the most critical in a generation. Trump has once again entered the discourse, reiterating alarming claims regarding the annexation of Canada.
The campaign was further marred by a tragic attack during a street festival in Vancouver, which caused significant national distress and compelled Prime Minister Mark Carney to momentarily halt his campaign activities.
Back in January, the political landscape for then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party appeared grim, trailing the Conservative Party led by Pierre Poilievre by as much as 27 points in certain polls. Poilievre seemed on the brink of achieving one of the largest electoral victories in recent history, thanks to a strategic long-term effort to weaken the governing Liberals and their minority government support.
However, Trump’s incendiary comments regarding Canada have reshaped public sentiment towards the United States and significantly influenced Carney’s electoral approach since taking leadership of the Liberal Party in March. This shift could lead to results previously deemed impossible just months ago.
Key events
Both Prime Minister Mark Carney and Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre are making final appeals across social media platforms.
Carney posted on X: “It’s time, Canada. Vote #CanadaStrong” along with a campaign video.
Poilievre posted on X: “It’s simple: No vote, no change. Bring friends, family, and coworkers out to VOTE for Change. Vote Conservative.”
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre stated on X: “President Trump, stay out of our election. The only people who will decide the future of Canada are Canadians at the ballot box. Canada will always be proud, sovereign, and independent, and we will NEVER be the 51st state.”
This response appears to be a rebuttal to Trump’s earlier comments on Truth Social, where he invited Canadians to consider becoming the 51st state of the US. Poilievre aims to assert Canadian sovereignty in the wake of Trump’s interference, seeking to distance himself from the controversial figure.
Voter turnout has been impressive, with a record 7.3 million Canadians having voted early, surpassing the 5.8 million who participated in advance voting during the 2021 federal election.
In this electoral process, all ballots are counted manually under the oversight of witnesses, with the final tallies verified and published online. Usually, preliminary results provide a clear picture of the front-runners on election night.
On election morning, Prime Minister Mark Carney was seen arriving at Ottawa’s International Airport after attending a vigil in Vancouver for victims of a car ramming attack that left 11 dead and many injured during a Filipino heritage festival.
Trump urges Canadians to make their country the 51st state of the US in election intervention
Donald Trump made headlines overnight as he issued a statement on the eve of Canada’s federal election, again casting doubt on the country’s sovereignty and labeling the US-Canada border as an “artificially drawn line” from the past, a remark that has become uncomfortable for Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre.
Using the Truth Social platform, Trump extended his “Good luck to the great people of Canada” wish before encouraging them to consider becoming the 51st state. He argued that such a move would yield tax reductions and bolster military power, stating:
Good luck to the great people of Canada. Elect the man who has the strength and wisdom to cut your taxes in half, increase your military power, for free, to the highest level in the world, have your car, steel, aluminum, lumber, energy, and all other businesses, quadruple in size, with zero tariffs or taxes, if Canada becomes the cherished 51st state of the US. No more artificially drawn line from many years ago. Look how beautiful this land mass would be. Free access with no border. All positives with no negatives. It was meant to be! America can no longer subsidize Canada with the hundreds of billions of dollars a year that we have been spending in the past. It makes no sense unless Canada is a state!
Polling earlier this year suggested that Poilievre’s Conservative Party was set for a significant victory in the federal election. However, Trump’s aggressive rhetoric targeting Canada has seemingly revitalized the Liberal Party’s position under the newly appointed Prime Minister Mark Carney.
According to Canada’s Globe and Mail, authorities have mailed out a record number of voting packs to overseas voters in this election, including 20,000 new voters now residing in the US. More than 100,000 overseas kits were sent out, with around 44,623 returned by April 26, compared to approximately 55,000 in the last election.
A comprehensive guide earlier this month outlined key players and stakes in this crucial election.
With multiple time zones, Canada has synchronized its voting windows to ensure nearly simultaneous results across the country:
Newfoundland time: 8:30 am to 8:30 pm
Atlantic time: 8:30 am to 8:30 pm
Eastern time: 9:30 am to 9:30 pm
Central time: 8:30 am to 8:30 pm
Mountain time: 7:30 am to 7:30 pm
Pacific time: 7:00 am to 7:00 pm
Since February, the Conservatives maintained a considerable lead over the Liberals, enjoying a 25-point advantage. Polls indicated a 99% chance of victory if an election were held at that time, potentially securing one of the largest parliamentary majorities in decades. However, Trump’s actions have significantly altered the political climate, leading to a decrease in Conservative support.
At the time of the election call, there were five parties represented in Canada’s parliament: the Liberal party led by Mark Carney with 153 seats, the Conservative party led by Pierre Poilievre with 120 seats, Bloc Québécois with 33 seats, the New Democrats (NDP) with 24 seats, and the Green party with two seats, alongside three independent seats and some vacancies.
Source
www.theguardian.com