Canada’s snap election has been dominated by one politician — who’s not even in the race — President Trump.
At the start of the year, it was almost certain that Pierre Poilievre, the leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, would be the next Canadian Prime Minister. After nearly a decade of Justin Trudeau leading the Liberal Party, both friends and foes had a growing disdain for the then Prime Minister.
Then, in quick succession, Trudeau resigned, Donald Trump became President, threatened Canada’s sovereignty, and signed an executive order implementing tariffs on imported Canadian goods. The Liberal Party of Canada got a new leader, Mark Carney. And tariffs sent markets into a tailspin.
The once commanding 25-point lead in the polls for the Conservatives disintegrated by mid-March. Now, when Canadian’s go to the polls on Monday, it’s anticipated that the Liberal Party of Canada will clinch a fourth term in office.
This is all you need to know about an election that’s been turned on its head by a politician who isn’t even Canadian – Donald Trump.
The candidates
There are four major political parties with candidates vying for position of Prime Minister, including the New Democrats (NDP) led by Jagmeet Singh, and the Bloc Québécois, led by Yves-François Blanchet.
But this is essentially a two man race between Carney and the Conservative Party’s Poilievre.
The 60-year-old Carney is the former governor of both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England and a political novice. But many Canadians see his decorated career in banking and the private sector as a much needed asset, experience needed to stand up to Trump.
David Coletto, a founder and CEO of Abacus Data, a Canadian polling firm says Poilievre’s setback has benefitted Carney.
„Mark Carney emerged at a moment where I think more and more Canadians were looking for somebody with his experience, with his demeanor, with his approach to politics.
