Canadian parliamentary elections to be held amid economic crisis
On Monday, Canadians will vote in general elections amid a tragedy that occurred on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of more than 10 people and prompting Prime Minister Mark Carney to cancel several campaign events, RIA Novosti reports.
As reported, on the evening of April 26 in Vancouver, an SUV rammed into a crowd participating in a Filipino festival. Police quickly detained the 30-year-old driver but stated that the incident was not considered a terrorist act. The driver reportedly had mental health issues. According to the latest information, 11 people were killed in the incident, including a five-year-old girl, and dozens of others were injured.
It has been noted that the tragedy in Vancouver is not the only shadow cast over Canada’s elections. In recent years, the country has been experiencing a growing socioeconomic crisis driven by high inflation, a lack of affordable housing, and the spread of fentanyl drugs.
With U.S. President Donald Trump returning to the White House, issues have expanded to include trade wars with neighboring United States and even threats to sovereignty and territorial integrity. The U.S. president has promised to make Canada the 51st state.
All these problems have created a situation where Carney came to power on March 14 through a secret vote within the ruling Liberal Party. His predecessor, Justin Trudeau, was forced to resign amid public dissatisfaction with his policies.
According to recent polls, the Liberals lead the main opposition, the Conservative Party led by Pierre Poilievre, by an average of 4 percentage points.
Just a few months ago, it was believed that the Conservatives had a good chance of winning, with a lead exceeding 25 percentage points in polls. However, Trudeau’s loss of public trust and Trump’s external threats have drastically reshaped Canada’s political landscape and sparked a wave of patriotism among Canadians who refuse to bow to their neighbor, the United States.
Experts note that Poilievre has lost his lead in the polls ahead of the elections, partly due to similarities with Trump, whom many Canadians view negatively because of his aggressive policies toward Ottawa.
Analysts point out that given Canada’s economic difficulties, Carney’s candidacy and his experience in successfully overcoming financial crises may resonate with voters.
