Canada Election: Poilievre Faces Uphill Battle
The Liberal party, led by Mark Carney, is poised for a significant victory, with some leftwing New Democratic voters fleeing to support Carney, potentially leading to the socially progressive party's worst-ever electoral result. As the election campaign enters its final stages, all eyes are on Canada to see how the outcome will shape the country's future.
Pierre Poilievre, the leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, is struggling to regain momentum in the election campaign after his lead evaporated following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's resignation and the Liberal Party's new leadership.
Poilievre's message of restoring national pride and defending working-class Canadians had initially resonated with some voters, but his aggressive style and policies have drawn scrutiny. His association with the "Freedom Convoy" and use of "trigger words" that appeal to far-right conspiracy theorists have raised concerns among many Canadians.
The Trump factor has also become a significant issue in the campaign, with Poilievre's adoption of a "Trump style" not sitting well with many Canadians. A recent poll found that 41% of respondents favored Liberal leader Mark Carney to handle Trump, compared to 31% for Poilievre. The Conservative Party is now 7 percentage points behind the Liberals, and polls are showing the Liberals have extended their lead.
The question remains how Poilievre might address rising tensions with the US if he becomes the next prime minister. Canadian Conservatives were on track for a historic win with a 25-point lead over the governing Liberals, but a sharp shift in public opinion due to Donald Trump's tariffs and threats has left the party trailing behind. Poilievre's popularity has plateaued, with a recent rally in Brampton drawing a fervent response from supporters, but polls suggest he is now viewed poorly among female voters and is the most disliked party leader among all voters.
The Conservative Party's loss of momentum has sparked infighting and recriminations, with some strategists attributing the decline to Poilievre's confrontational style and failure to show empathy for ordinary voters. The party is now pinning its hopes on a last-minute reversal, but experts say it would take an extraordinary event to change the course of the election.