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Scroll.in
29-04-2025
- Business
- Scroll.in
How Trump's taunts helped Canada's flailing Liberals to a fourth-term election win
Canada's 2025 federal election will be remembered as a game-changer. Liberal Leader Mark Carney pulled off a dramatic reversal of political fortunes after convincing voters he was the best candidate to fight annexation threats from United States President Donald Trump. 'We are over the shock of the American betrayal; we have to take care of each other,' he told cheering supporters in his victory speech in Ottawa. 'Together we will build a Canada worthy of our values. Canada strong, Canada free, Canada forever, vive le Canada!' Canadians gave the Liberals their fourth mandate since 2015, although the race against the Conservatives was much closer than polls predicted. Nonetheless, only four months ago, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre had a 25-point lead in public opinion polls and a fairly secure path to victory. Yet Poilievre's lead soon vanished due to shifting voter sentiments defined less by the official campaign period and more by the months that preceded it. Justin Trudeau's early January resignation announcement and Carney's confirmation that he was officially in the Liberal leadership race dramatically changed the political landscape. Within a matter of weeks, Liberal support surged when Carney became party leader and Trump continued to make threats about Canada becoming a 51st American state – and to levy punishing on-again, off-again tariffs against the country. The party went from being 20 percentage points behind the Conservatives to overtaking them, putting the party on track to secure its fourth consecutive victory. A shift described by longtime pollster Frank Graves as ' unprecedented.' Thank you, Canada. Our strength lies in our resolve to work together. United, we will build Canada strong. — Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) April 29, 2025 Poilievre's messaging The emerging 'Canada Strong' and 'Elbows Up' narratives, linked to the widespread anti-Trump sentiment, proved a major advantage for the Liberals, who made the most out of this political gift. This shift, alongside Carney's elimination of the carbon tax, left Poilievre on the back foot as his longstanding messaging on Trudeau and his 'axe the tax' slogan became largely irrelevant. The impact of these shifts in electoral fortunes extended beyond the two main parties. As the election became increasingly a two-party race between the Liberals and Conservatives, the smaller parties struggled for relevance. Election campaign polling and early results indicated steep losses for the New Democratic Party, with Jagmeet Singh losing his own seat in Burnaby, British Columbia, and then resigning as party leader. This could be due to voters on the left responding to calls to vote strategically to prevent Conservative victories in various ridings. The Bloc Québecois also lost ground, as did the Green Party of Canada and the People's Party of Canada. Neither the Greens nor the People's Party of Canada fielded full slates of candidates or participated in the leaders' debates and therefore played comparatively limited roles in this election. Advance voting Another notable feature of this election was the record advance voting turnout, which surged to 7.3 million Canadians, up sharply from 5.8 million in 2021. Early voting has now become a central part of party campaign strategy, with campaigns 'getting out the vote' at every opportunity, not just on Election Day. This trend raises questions not only about whether overall turnout will rise, but also whether party platforms remain as influential given so many votes were cast before all parties released their platforms. While many Canadians take in elections with a focus on party leaders and seat counts, there are other important ways to contemplate election outcomes in terms of inclusion and voice. What does this election tell us about gender and diversity representation in Canada's Parliament? This was a deeply gendered election. The major party leaders are all men, with the exception of Elizabeth May, the Green Party co-leader. Preliminary candidate data showed a decrease in the number of women candidates compared to 2021. The New Democratic Party nominated the highest proportion of women candidates – the majority of its candidates are women – and fielded the most diverse slate of candidates in terms of Indigenous people, Black people, racialised people and LGBTQ+ candidates. But the party's dramatic losses mean these gains will not translate into more diverse representation in Parliament. Furthermore, one of Carney's first actions as prime minister was to eliminate the sex-balanced cabinet and to reduce the size of the cabinet. He eliminated the Ministry of Women and Gender Equality as well as ministerial portfolios focused on youth, official languages, diversity, inclusion, disability and seniors. Donald Trump is the best Liberal™ campaign manager in the history of Canadian elections. — de Adder Canada (@deAdderCanada) April 28, 2025 These decisions reverse previous efforts taken to institutionalise gender and diversity leadership in Canada's Parliament. Party platforms also reflected diverging approaches when it came to women. The Conservative platform only mentioned women four times, and three of those mentions were in the context of opposition to transgender rights. Young working-class men Polling also revealed intersections of generation, gender and class are increasingly relevant. Like the last federal election, young working-class men are increasingly drawn to the Conservatives. This trend appears to be driven less by fiscal conservatism and more by concerns about rapid social change, a trend also observed in the 2024 American presidential election. Many of these young men are expressing frustrations over housing affordability and job security, and what they view as the Liberal and the New Democratic Party's 'woke culture,' which they view as eroding traditional values that have traditionally benefited men. In contrast, Canadian women of all ages continue to favour parties they view as more progressive – the Liberals and the New Democratic Party. Theoretical explanations for this include young men feeling left behind by the Liberals, while the Conservatives have seemingly figured out a way to connect with them. This may reflect campaign rhetoric about returning to traditional expectations and values around gender roles and men's rights to well-paying jobs, an affordable home and taking care of their families. Electoral reform needed? In the aftermath of the election, there are avenues through which current gaps in representation can be addressed. Organisations like the United Nations' Inter-parliamentary Union and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, as well as gender and politics scholarship, propose various reforms to continue to strengthen diversity in Parliament. These reforms are understood to be essential for enhancing the legitimacy, responsiveness and effectiveness of Canada's parliamentary system. Research on gender-and diversity-sensitive parliaments consistently shows that when legislative bodies reflect the diversity of the societies they govern, they are more likely to produce policies that are equitable, inclusive and trusted by the public. Overall, this Canadian election was characterised by transformative twists and turns that shed more light on important ongoing questions about representation and the potential need for democratic reform if Canadians want to avoid a two-party system.
Hamilton Spectator
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Liberal incumbent Adam van Koeverden wins Burlington North—Milton West
Burlington North—Milton West is staying red. Liberal incumbent Adam van Koeverden won against second-time Conservative candidate Nadeem Akbar. A new riding created in 2023 by redistribution of federal electoral districts, it includes about half of urban Milton from west of Ontario Street South, a northern section of Burlington from roughly Upper Middle Road, and a sizeable section of rural Milton in the north extending to Highway 7. The former Olympic sprint kayaker's win Monday follows his 2021 and 2019 victories, when he captured more than 50 per cent of the vote. Meanwhile, Akbar, an IT consultant specializing in infrastructure and cybersecurity, got just 33.1 per cent of the vote in the riding's 2021 race. The race also included the NDP's Naveed Ahmed and the People's Party of Canada Charles Zach.
CBC
29-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Incumbents re-elected in northwestern Ontario, CBC News projects
Voters in northwestern Ontario ridings have re-elected the incumbents in the 2025 federal election, CBC News projects. Liberal Patty Hajdu, who served as Minister of Indigenous Services during the previous term, is projected to retain her seat in Thunder Bay-Superior North., while fellow Liberal Marcus Powlowski is projected to hold onto Thunder Bay-Rainy River. In the west of the region, Conservative Eric Melilo was also projected to keep his seat in Kenora-Kiiwetinoong. With 162 of the riding's 204 polls reporting, Hajdu had just over 51 per cent of the vote, ahead of Conservative Bob Herman, who had about 38 per cent. "I'm really excited for our riding," Hajdu said. "Obviously, the country has re-elected a Liberal government. That's really good news for the country." Hajdu was first elected as MP in 2015. "It is such an honour to get to know this riding from corner to corner," she said. "It expanded this year, there are an additional five First Nations communities that have been added to Thunder Bay-Superior North." "We have challenges, obviously, but we have such opportunity in this region, and such incredible, resilient human beings." John Stephenson, a supporter of Hajdu, said he was thrilled to see her re-elected on Monday. "There's so many things that we need to focus on in this country," he said. "Homelessness, in particular, and affordable housing ... are high on my list of priorities." "But higher than anything else, I think, my concern is about climate change, and the fact that we're not doing enough as a country to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions." "I think, of all the parties, the Liberal government offers the most in that respect," he said. "I just hope it follows through." The NDP's Joy Wakefield, People's Party of Canada (PPC) candidate Amos Bradley, and Green John Northey rounded out the field. Kenora-Kiiwetinoong With 120 out of 157 polls reporting, Conservative Eric Melillo was projected to remain as MP for Kenora-Kiiwetinoong; with about 50 per cent of the vote. That put him well ahead of his closest competitor, Liberal Charles Fox, who had about 34 per cent. The NDP's Tania Cameron was at about 13 per cent, and was followed by the Green Party's Jon Hobbs, People's Party of Canada's Bryce Desjarlais and independent Kelvin Boucher-Chicago. Thunder Bay-Rainy River CBC News has also called the Thunder Bay-Rainy River race, with Liberal Marcus Powlowski projected to return to Ottawa as a member of parliament. With 190 out of 210 polls reporting, Powlowski had just over 48 per cent of the vote. Conservative Brendan Hyatt was at just over 43 per cent, while the NDP's Yuk-Sem Won had received just under seven per cent. The PPC's Sabrina Ree and Green Eric Arner are sitting in fourth and fifth spot, respectively.
Vancouver Sun
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
Federal Election Day: What voters in Tricities, Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge should know
Article content It's election day across Canada and B.C. residents in Coquitlam, Port Moody, Port Coquitlam, Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge are heading to the polls to choose new MPs to represent them in the ridings of: Article content Article content • Coquitlam-Port Coquitlam • Port Moody-Coquitlam • Pitt Meadows-Maple Ridge Article content Article content If you are still deciding who to vote for, check out our handy guide outlining 12 hot topics and where the major parties stand on each one HERE. Article content Article content Article content But he'll have to unseat Liberal Ron McKinnon, who has held the riding in three elections since then, winning the first time in 2015, when Stephen Harper's Conservatives were turfed from government. Article content Article content In 2021, results stood at 18,178 for the Liberals, 14,437 for Conservatives, 13,228 for the NDP and 2,093 for the rightist People's Party of Canada. Article content Article content Also running this election is Laura Dupont is for the NDP, Michael Peter Glenister for the Green party and Lewis Clarke Dahlby for the Libertarian Party. Article content McKinnon beat the previous Conservative second-place finisher by just under 300 votes in 2015, but that gap widened to more than 3,700 votes against a different Conservative candidate in 2019. But much in the race depends on if Dupont can come in a close third, as she did in 2021, finishing 1,200 votes behind the Conservatives, which could keep 13,000 votes from either of the two leaders.
CBC
25-04-2025
- Business
- CBC
Kitchener-Conestoga candidates discuss farmland, housing and support for Palestine
There are four candidates running in Kitchener-Conestoga in this federal election. The candidates are (in alphabetical order by last name): Maya Bozorgzad, New Democratic Party. Kevin Dupuis, People's Party of Canada. Tim Louis, Liberal Party of Canada (incumbent). Doug Treleaven, Conservative Party of Canada. There is no Green candidate in this riding. CBC K-W invited the candidates from the four major parties to take part in a panel discussion on The Morning Edition with host Craig Norris. The topics covered included farmland, housing and candidate support for Palestine. Bozorgzad of the NDP introduced herself as a lawyer and small business owner who lives in Wilmot with her fiance. "We are working hard trying to build a life here but rising costs are making it increasingly challenging," she said, adding she's running in this election "because I think we need solutions to the issues that we face in Kitchener-Conestoga that are focused on people, not profits for an elite few." Dupuis also ran for the People's Party in 2021 in this riding. His website says he has spent more than 30 years in the IT sector, working with various platforms for accounting software, barcode systems, manufacturing and knowledge management. He lives in West Montrose. Louis, who is the Liberal incumbent, has held the seat since 2019. He lives in the Forest Heights neighbourhood of Kitchener and said during his time in office, he has advocated for funding for the area. "I've sat at your kitchen tables, walked through farmers' fields, listened in places of worship and worked alongside volunteers in our community. And I've celebrated with you on our good times and our shining moments, and stood by you in tough times," he said. "I've worked across party lines to get things done because that's what Canadians expect. And I don't shy away from tough conversations. I show up listening, understanding and working together is how we built a better future." Treleaven's website notes he grew up in Fergus, moved to St. Jacobs in 2009 and founded the fraud prevention software company ThinkLP. He is also a member of Wilfrid Laurier University's board of governors. On farmland One of the big issues in Kitchener-Conestoga is the current plan by the Region of Waterloo to purchase farmland for future industrial purposes. The region says it needs the land to grow its economy. Critics say Canada is losing farmland at too high a rate to allow projects like this. When asked what the role of the federal government is in a project like this, Louis said farmland is disappearing "at an alarming rate" and he has been working on legislation called the Canada Farmland Protection Act which would act as a blueprint to create a national framework to protect farmland. "Farmland is a non-renewable resource. So once it's gone, it's gone and you can't get that back. So our farmers are the ones feeding cities. So we need to conserve our farmland," he said. "We need to harmonize conservation practices and we need to create conservation incentives. The legislation I'm proposing will help farmers pass their land on to the next generation or put land in trust." Bozorgzad said this is an important issue that's "near and dear to my heart" because it's happening in her community. "We all know that food is at the core of our homes, of our communities and our economy. And the future of Canada depends on protecting the people that grow that food," she said. "I plan to stand up for farming families here in Kitchener Conestoga. That means showing up and amplifying their voices when their property rights are being threatened, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with them and making sure that these rights are protected to the best of our abilities." She said she would also push for policies to help farmers sell to new markets and invest in infrastructure that would allow them to scale up. Land expropriation is a top concern for Kitchener-Conestoga voters. Here's where federal candidates stand on the issue 2 days ago Duration 2:32 After participating in a panel discussion on CBC K-W's The Morning Edition, Kitchener-Conestoga candidates were asked where they stand the regional government's plans to purchase farmland in their riding for future industrial purposes. The two candidates who took part in the panel were Liberal Tim Louis and the NDP's Maya Bozorgzad. The Conservative candidate Doug Treleaven was invited, but he did not respond to a request to participate in the panel. There are four candidates in total in this riding, including Kevin Dupuis from the People's Party of Canada. On Palestine The ongoing war in Gaza continues to affect people in Waterloo region and in the riding of Kitchener-Conestoga. Both Bozorgzad and Louis are listed as having signed onto the Palestine Platform, which is calling for a focus on Palestine and an arms embargo to be a key election issue. The candidates were asked why they think a local candidate needs to speak out on this issue and what supporting this platform means to them. Bozorgzad said "what is occurring in Gaza is a genocide. There's no debate about that." She said she knows people in Kitchener-Conestoga understand this is an important issue. "They understand completely what's happening systematically to the Palestinian people. But not only that, but they and I were infuriated because within Waterloo region we play a particularly dark role in that. We have manufacturers here that have provided arms and parts to Israel," she said. "It's obvious that we're on the wrong side of history." Louis said "we need to call out injustices as they happen." He said he was approached at a public meeting about the issue and then he sat down with a number of groups to talk about the conflict, "all people who just want peace in the region." He told them as a local MP, "I can't stop a war that's happening halfway across the globe. And they said, we don't expect you to. We expect you to speak up." "That moment hit me, that hit me hard. And that was the moment that was many months ago that I decided that is my responsibility," Louis said. "I did vote in favour of a motion recognizing the Palestinian state. I personally support the Palestinian state as part of a two-state solution. I do support a two-way arms embargo of Canadian weapons exports and we need to fund more human rights and relief for two million civilians, which are mostly women and children." He said the federal government also can help address Islamophobia and anti-Semitism in Canada. On housing Affordable housing continues to be a top issue for many voters in this election. In particular, it's becoming more expensive to own a home in rural areas like Elmira, New Hamburg and Wellesley. In order to make owning a home more affordable, Louis said the riding faces "some extra challenges because we're both urban and rural." "So in our small communities and in our city of Kitchener, the challenges are the same, but the solutions are slightly different. In Kitchener, we're talking about building density and we're building density near public transit," he said. "In our townships spaces the land is not the issue. It becomes infrastructure. When I sit down with the mayors, the CEOs, what they need is, they need supports for sewers, roads, bridges, the secondary supports for parks. That's the funding that they're looking for." Louis said there also needs to be more work done to lower rents for students and create homes for seniors who want to downsize but stay in their community. He says Liberal funding plans will help to do that. Bozorgzad said it's an issue she's hearing as she knocks on doors. "Everybody is really concerned about home prices going up, but also rent going up as well. The rents have doubled in our communities in recent years," she said. "The problem is that the housing market has been treated like a playground for speculators and corporate landlords and it's driving prices up and it's pushing people out of the communities that they love. We have unfair practices like rent evictions, unjust rent hikes, and we also have governments that have failed to build enough affordable housing, which has worsened our supply." She said the NDP plan would "prioritize Canadian interests over that of foreign investors, of speculators, of corporate landlords." The NDP would call for national rent control, banning fixed-term leases, rent eviction, rent price fixing and landlord collusion. "For people that are looking to get into the market, we're going to help them out, offer long-term, low interest mortgages to make home ownership more accessible for more people," she said. "We're going to invest in prefab housing to lower construction costs and help build faster. I think we all know housing is a right and everyone deserves a safe and affordable place to call home in this country." On tariffs Local farmers and agricultural businesses are worried about how U.S. tariffs could potentially impact them Bozorgzad said the trade war is already driving up prices. "It's already costing U.S. jobs and it's affecting our farmers as well. And we have at least four years of this ahead," she said. "Our plan is to keep farmers at the forefront of our national priorities … they do deserve a real seat at the table when policies are being made that impact them." She said policies need to reduce reliance on the U.S., diversify export markets and invest in the infrastructure that farmers need to compete globally, including high speed broadband and cellphone infrastructure. Louis says he's been meeting with farmers and agricultural businesses owners and workers about their concerns over the impact tariffs could have. "We need to fight those tariffs with countertariffs and every dollar is going to go to the businesses that are affected. We need to protect our workers and our industry and we need to build Canadian resilience," Louis said. "We've said we will defend supply management for dairy, for poultry and for eggs." Louis said he sat on the House of Commons agriculture committee which has been focused on helping farmers prepare for climate change. Now, the focus must also include tariffs. "I've got a bill that I've written called the Affordable Local Food Act, which calls for more domestic preprocessing, which we need more of. And so in our platform now, I'm glad to say that some of that has made it to the platform, $200 million in domestic food processing fund to increase our food production here," Louis said. Treleaven has been sent the questions from the panel by email. When his campaign responds, his answers will be added to this story. Dupuis has also been sent questions by email. When he responds, the answers will be added to this story. Voters go to the polls on April 28.
