Canadians will vote for a new government on Monday in an election that has been upended by U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war and his threats to make Canada the 51st state. (AP video: Mike Householder)
Canadians are headed to the polls to decide whether to extend the Liberal Party’s decade in power or hand control to the Conservatives. They’ll pick new Prime Minister Mark Carney or populist opposition leader Pierre Poilievre, but the election is also a referendum of sorts on someone who isn’t even Canadian: Donald Trump.
The country is also grappling with the aftermath of a fatal car ramming attack on Saturday in Vancouver. The tragedy prompted the suspension of campaigning for several hours. Police ruled out terrorism and said the suspect is a local man with a history of mental health issues.
Trump’s trade war and annexation threats have upended Canada’s election and improved the fortunes of the Liberal Party, and might have contributed to record early voting, with 7.3 million Canadians casting ballots before election day.
The Liberals and the country’s new prime minister, Mark Carney, looked headed for a crushing defeat until the American president started attacking Canada’s economy and even threatening its sovereignty, including suggesting it should become the 51st state.
Trump’s dumping on Canada has infuriated its people and stoked a surge in Canadian nationalism that has helped the Liberals flip the election narrative.
The opposition Conservative Party’s leader, Pierre Poilievre, hoped to make the election a referendum on former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whose popularity declined toward the end of his decade in power as food and housing prices rose and immigration surged.
But Trump attacked, Trudeau resigned and Carney, a two-time central banker, became the Liberal Party’s leader and prime minister.
▶Read more about the impact of Trump’s trade war on Canada’s election
Toronto resident Reid Warren says he voted Liberal because Poilievre “sounds like mini-Trump to me.” And he says Trump’s tariffs are a worry.
“Canadians coming together from, you know, all the shade being thrown from the States is great, but it’s definitely created some turmoil, that’s for sure,” Warren says.
Prime Minister Mark Carney and the governing Liberal Party appeared poised for a historic election defeat until Trump slapped heavy tariffs on Canada and began threatening its sovereignty.
Trump’s attacks have infuriated Canadians, who are canceling trips to their southern neighbor and avoiding buying American goods when they can. The surge in Canadian nationalism has bolstered the Liberals’ poll numbers.
The opposition Conservative Party had hoped to make the election a referendum on former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whose popularity cratered as food and housing prices rose and immigration surged. But after decades of bilateral stability, the vote is now expected to focus on who is best equipped to deal with Trump.
Read more about what’s at stake in this election
Poilievre, who has been criticized for not taking a firmer stance against Trump, has responded to the U.S. president’s post with a post of his own.
“President Trump, stay out of our election. The only people who will decide the future of Canada are Canadians at the ballot box,” he posted. “Canada will always be proud, sovereign and independent and we will NEVER be the 51st state.”
Poilievre and his wife voted in their suburban district near the nation’s capital, Ottawa.
Trump’s attacks have put Poilievre and the Conservative Party on the defensive. Trump said last week that Canada would “cease to exist as a country” if the U.S. stopped buying its goods.
▶Read more about Trump’s stand on Canada
