Canadians expected to respond at ballot box to Donald Trump's threats
Donald Trump has dominated the federal election campaign and some voters say the U.S. president's rhetoric is motivating them to cast a ballot this year.
Trump's tariffs on Canadian imports and comments about making Canada the 51st state have provoked a range of feelings among voters in this country.
Some in downtown Halifax say it's the reason they will be heading to the polls next month.
"I would say yes. I believe that everyone should vote this time around," Calum Ryan said.
"Totally," said Tanner Messenger. "I think it's a pretty important topic. It's something that I feel like will have a big impact on who I would want leading our country to deal with this stuff."
Kate Ervine said she always votes but the circumstances surrounding this federal election are making her reconsider the party she typically supports.
"I think the context that we're confronted with right now requires us to think seriously about who we're voting for and the implications down the road," she said.
Some voters said Trump's constant comments about Canada weren't affecting how they were going to vote, but they do think it's going to drive more Canadians to the polls on April 28.
"For sure," said Brad Ruggles. "I think it's a big enough deal. It affects everybody and it has some real implications."
2025 reminiscent of past 'existential' elections
Tom Urbaniak, a political science professor at Cape Breton University in Sydney, N.S., agrees Trump's comments will lead to a response at the ballot box.
"I think we will see a voter turnout that is noticeably higher than in the last federal election and absolutely higher than in the recent provincial election," he said.
Turnout for the 2021 federal election was 62.3 per cent. Nova Scotia and Ontario saw less than half of the electorate cast a ballot in their last provincial elections.
But Urbaniak said he sees similarities between this year's election and the 1988 vote where free trade with the United States was framed by some people "as by some of the political actors as being almost existential, as defining the future of Canada for generations."
"I'm seeing a little bit of that in this election," he said.
Trump is the main ballot box issue in 2025 which has many Canadians who may typically not be interested in politics paying closer attention.
"Canadians are looking for patriotism," Urbaniak said. "That includes expressions of patriotism, but also a willingness to defend and articulate those things that Canadians see as making our country unique from the United States."
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