A new Nanos poll released on Sunday shows that the gap between the Liberals, led by Mark Carney, and Pierre Poilievre's Conservatives has widened slightly, with Carney’s party holding a 4-percentage-point lead ahead of Monday’s national election. The poll, which indicates a shift from the previous day, shows national Liberal support at 43 percent compared to 38.9 percent for the Conservatives.
As Canadians prepare to vote, the election campaign entered its final stretch with candidates making their last appeals to voters. However, the tragic news of a deadly car-ramming attack in Vancouver briefly shifted national attention away from the campaign trail. The incident, which occurred at a Filipino street festival, left 11 people dead and dozens more injured, deeply affecting the nation.
Mark Carney, the 60-year-old Liberal leader and former central banker, paused his campaign to address the nation. Speaking emotionally about the attack, Carney expressed his deep sorrow, stating, "Last night, families lost a sister, a brother, a mother, a father, a son, or a daughter… Those families are living every family's nightmare." His words resonated with many, emphasizing unity and support for those affected.
In response to the tragedy, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre also expressed his condolences, condemning the "senseless act of violence" while standing alongside his wife at a church in Mississauga, an electoral battleground city just west of Toronto. Poilievre voiced solidarity with the Filipino community, saying, "Our hearts are with you today. All Canadians are united in solidarity with the Filipino community."
Despite the tragic events, the political battle between Carney’s Liberals and Poilievre’s Conservatives remains fierce. Carney, who took over leadership of the Liberal Party this year after Justin Trudeau's resignation, has been widely seen as the stronger candidate in public opinion. Many Canadians view him as a steady and experienced leader, bolstered by his strong stance against U.S. President Donald Trump, whose trade war and aggressive comments about Canada have drawn ire in the country.
Poilievre, on the other hand, has focused his campaign on criticizing the rising cost of living during Trudeau's decade in power. He argues that Carney represents a continuation of the failed Liberal governance that led to economic hardship for many Canadians.
As election day approaches, British Columbia’s 43 electoral districts are among the most hotly contested. The Nanos poll indicates that the Liberals' narrow lead, which has slightly widened from Saturday, may play a key role in the election outcome. In British Columbia, one of the country’s most closely watched battlegrounds, both parties are heavily campaigning for crucial support.
With the election set for Monday, Canadians are faced with a choice between Carney’s vision for a continued Liberal government, which has taken a tough stance against the U.S., and Poilievre’s promises of economic reform and a break from the policies of the past decade. As the final hours of campaigning unfold, the nation waits to see which party will emerge victorious.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)