Over the 40 years he spent in elected politics, former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien has seen it all.
Yet, the 91-year-old career politician admits the current federal election is unique among the many he’s observed in his lifetime.
While he’s been part of campaigns fought over important, country-defining issues – like free trade in 1988 – this one has a more existential quality about it, he says. That, of course, is the doing of U.S. President Donald Trump.
His tariffs have imperilled our economic security and his desire to make Canada the 51st state has threatened our sovereignty. Together, it’s created a crisis of uncertainty that is having an outsized impact on the election.
“Trump’s intervention into the existence of Canada has really traumatized the country,” Mr. Chrétien told The Globe and Mail in an interview. “And Canadians are deciding which of the two main parties can best represent our interests and make sure we remain a completely independent country.”
The Canada-U.S. tariff war looms large in this federal election. Here’s what’s happened so far
It has been two generations since Canada held an election where more than 80 per cent of the vote was cast for one of the country’s two main political parties. Current polls suggest support for the Conservatives and Liberals, when combined, is likely to breach that mark again in what many consider the most consequential election of their lifetime.
According to the latest tracking by Nanos Research for The Globe and Mail, conducted between April 15 and April 17, the Liberals have the support of 45 per cent of decided voters, while the Conservatives have 37 per cent. Meantime, the NDP are at 8 per cent, the Bloc at 6 per cent, the Greens at 3 per cent and the Peoples Party of Canada at 1 per cent.
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Blackstar ·
Birdie Boy Newest Member ·