Canadian Leaders Battle for Final Votes as Trump Overshadows Election Campaign
MISSISSAUGA — As Canadians prepare to head to the polls, political leaders made their final appeals on Saturday, crisscrossing key battleground districts in a race shaken by U.S. President Donald Trump’s aggressive rhetoric. Prime Minister Mark Carney, seen as the frontrunner, reassured voters of his ability to stand firm against Washington’s pressures.
A win for Carney’s Liberal Party would represent one of the most stunning political comebacks in Canadian history.
When former prime minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation on January 6, the Liberals were trailing the Conservatives by over 20 points in major polls, and Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre appeared poised to claim victory.
However, the political landscape shifted dramatically after Trump unveiled a series of tough tariff measures and made controversial remarks about annexing Canada into the United States.
Angered by these statements, Canadians have responded with public acts of protest, including booing the U.S. national anthem at sporting events and cancelling trips south of the border.
Since taking over Liberal leadership on March 14, Carney, a former central bank chief in Canada and Britain, has positioned himself as the steady hand needed to navigate the turbulence caused by Trump’s policies.
On Saturday, Carney campaigned heavily across Ontario, focusing on communities near Toronto known for swinging between the two major parties.
“President Trump’s trade war has fractured the global economy and betrayed Canada,” Carney told supporters at a rally in Mississauga. “Canadians must learn from that betrayal and demand leadership capable of facing global challenges,” he added, taking direct aim at Poilievre, whom he criticized for lacking the necessary experience to steer the country through a crisis.
“We don’t need chaos; we need stability. We don’t need anger; we need maturity,” Carney emphasized.
He was set to wrap up the day with a rally in Windsor, home to Canada’s automotive sector, which has been particularly affected by Trump’s tariffs.
Conservatives Push Back
Poilievre, shaken by Carney’s rising momentum and the Trump factor, worked to refocus attention on domestic grievances, particularly the high cost of living under the Liberals.
Campaigning in British Columbia, Poilievre reiterated his message that Carney represented continuity with Trudeau’s unpopular policies.
“You cannot afford another four years like this,” he told a crowd in Delta, emphasizing the hardships faced by working-class families. “To the single mother whose fridge and wallet are both empty, know that help is coming,” he promised.
Though he criticized Trump’s actions, Poilievre blamed Canada’s economic vulnerability on Liberal mismanagement rather than external pressures.
Election Tightens
While polls suggest the Liberals are on track to form the next government, the race has tightened considerably. CBC’s poll tracker showed Liberal support slipping slightly to 42.5%, with the Conservatives close behind at 38.7%.
One advantage for the Liberals could be the declining support for the New Democratic Party and the Bloc Québécois, which in past elections had divided votes critical for Liberal majorities in British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec.
Voter enthusiasm appears strong; a record-breaking 7.3 million Canadians voted early during the Easter weekend — a 25% surge compared to the last election in 2021.
A Campaign Full of Surprises
According to Daniel Beland, a political scientist at McGill University, Conservative efforts to shift the campaign focus away from Trump have largely fallen flat.
Political analyst Tim Powers noted that the unusual dynamics of the campaign — dominated by external threats rather than domestic issues — created a scenario that the Conservatives were unprepared for.
“They expected to be battling Trudeau on affordability and pocketbook issues, not facing a seasoned global figure like Carney amid international upheaval,” Powers observed.
Election results are expected within hours after polls close on Monday.
