Candidates in Canada Election Make Last Appeals Amid Vancouver Tragedy

• Carney believes he can navigate Canada through Trump’s tariffs.
• Recent polls show the Liberals with a slight edge over the Conservatives.
• Poilievre’s message of change resonates particularly with younger voters.

SASKATOON: Prime Minister Mark Carney and Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre concluded their campaigns on a solemn note this Sunday following a tragic incident in Vancouver, where at least 11 people lost their lives due to a man driving through a crowd at a Filipino community festival.

Sunday marked the end of a five-week campaign period for both candidates, who have focused their efforts on persuading voters ahead of Monday’s election, primarily discussing U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs and his threats regarding Canadian sovereignty.

The impact of the tragic event in Vancouver on the election remains uncertain, although both candidates expressed their sympathies. Authorities confirmed the arrest of a 30-year-old man from Vancouver who was already known to law enforcement.

Carney indicated plans to travel to Vancouver later that day to meet with Premier David Eby of British Columbia and local community leaders, according to a Liberal Party spokesperson.

“Our thoughts are with the friends and families of those affected. This is a heartbreaking loss for a tightly-knit community—the Filipino community here in the Lower Mainland, our community in Saskatoon, and the larger one-million-strong Filipino population across Canada,” Carney stated during a gathering with supporters.

Poilievre, while addressing a crowd in Oakville, Ontario, acknowledged the tragedy and highlighted the pain of the Filipino community that has suffered greatly. His supporters later chanted, “We want change,” emphasizing their desire for new leadership after nearly ten years under the Liberal administration of former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Poilievre has committed to cutting spending on foreign aid and removing a federal sales tax on Canadian-manufactured vehicles while U.S. tariffs remain in effect. “We are going to promote production here in Canada,” he asserted.

Carney met with supporters in Saskatchewan following a campaign event in Ontario where he claimed he was best positioned to guide Canada through the crisis precipitated by Trump’s tariffs. Later, he planned to rally supporters in Edmonton.

However, an aide confirmed that Carney had canceled his election day appearances in Calgary and Richmond, British Columbia, due to the car-ramming incident in Vancouver.

Carney, a former central banker and collegiate hockey goalie who took office this year after Trudeau stepped down, likened the current political climate to the last two minutes of Game 7 in the Stanley Cup Finals. “This is our moment to seize victory,” Carney stated at an event north of Toronto, referencing the NHL championship.

Close Liberal Advantage

Polls indicate that Carney’s Liberal Party holds a slight lead in popular support just before the final voting, following Trump’s tariffs imposed on Canada and his constant references portraying the once-tight ally as the 51st state. These inflammatory remarks have incensed Canadians, resulting in a significant turnaround from a previous 20-point lead for Poilievre, who has been compared to Trump by the Liberals.

The 43 electoral districts in British Columbia have emerged as some of the most fiercely contested battlegrounds in the country.

A recent Nanos poll reveals a margin of about four percentage points between the leading parties, slightly more than the day before. The poll found national support for the Liberals at 43%, compared to 38.9% for the Conservatives.

In typical scenarios, this national vote differential would suggest a win for the Liberals, given that their support tends to be more concentrated in urban areas with a higher number of electoral districts. However, it is still unclear whether this will secure the Liberals a majority capable of governing independently.

The Nanos survey questioned 1,600 adult Canadians between April 24 and April 26, with an accuracy of ±2.4 percentage points. An Ipsos Canada poll released later also showed the Liberals ahead by four points.

Poilievre’s promises for change and his agenda to address rising living costs have particularly struck a chord with younger men, contributing to large crowds at his events.

Meanwhile, Carney, having distanced himself from Trudeau’s policies since taking office in March, has mainly attracted older voters at his rallies, was anticipated to engage in a vigorous canvassing effort across four provinces on Sunday.