A Historic Election Shaped by Trump’s Influence
Polls have officially closed across Canada after a snap election dominated by an unexpected central figure — U.S. President Donald J. Trump.
The campaign, triggered just six weeks after Mark Carney was sworn in as Prime Minister following the political collapse of Justin Trudeau, became a proxy battle over Trump’s tariffs and his public statements suggesting Canada should become the 51st U.S. state.
As ballots were cast, reports emerged that the official Elections Canada website suffered outages, leaving many citizens unable to access real-time voting information. Officials have yet to confirm the cause of the disruption.
A Nation at a Crossroads
The two main contenders in this historic race are:
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Mark Carney and the Liberal Party, seeking to maintain a decade-long hold on power.
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Pierre Poilievre and the Conservative Party, rallying voters with promises of change and national independence.
Trump’s commentary on Canada’s future sent shockwaves through the political landscape. Poilievre publicly told Trump to “stay out of our election,” while Carney used the opportunity to paint himself as a defender against “the crisis in the United States.”
Despite attempts by both sides to focus on domestic issues, Trump’s tariffs and calls for greater integration into the United States have loomed large over every debate, town hall, and media cycle.
Trade Wars and Economic Anxiety
Currently, Canada faces about C$65 billion worth of retaliatory tariffs, imposed after Trump’s administration partially enacted 25% tariffs on Canadian goods. Steel, aluminum, and automotive industries have been particularly hard hit.
Both major parties — Liberal and Conservative — have pledged to maintain some form of retaliatory tariffs:
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Carney’s Liberals propose targeted tariffs designed to maximize pain on the U.S. economy while minimizing damage to Canadian businesses.
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Poilievre’s Conservatives favor broader tariffs but are also campaigning on reducing economic dependence on the U.S. altogether.
With Canada’s economy teetering from the aftershocks of pandemic disruptions, supply chain crises, and now intensified trade conflicts, economic issues weighed heavily on voters’ minds.
Elections Canada Website Outage Adds to Suspense
As the nation awaits final results, widespread reports indicate that Elections Canada’s website went offline for stretches of time throughout the evening. Voters and observers expressed frustration as they attempted to track early returns.
At this stage, it’s unclear whether the website crash was due to high traffic, technical malfunction, or outside interference. Authorities have not provided a timeline for full restoration.
