Canada election votes are being cast today. As Canadians go to the polls for a snap election called by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Canada – the bright shining light for the last four years.
Trudeau and his Liberal Party are in a tight race with the Conservatives, who are convinced of a win for their leader Erin O’Toole. O’Toole was a huge underdog, at the start of the elections and is now within a few points of Trudeau’s party. The latest polls have O’Toole less than a point behind Trudeau’s Liberals.
Trudeau Canada – Shining light
For four years, Justin Trudeau was viewed by many on the American left as a shining liberal counterpoint to Donald Trump’s conservatism.
He was everything the brash US president wasn’t – young, idealistic and a champion for international co-operation and progressive values on the environment, healthcare, race and culture.
When Americans grew despondent about their domestic situation, they had Trudeau’s spats with Trump and a wealth of panda memes to give them comfort.
Canada election – Always a tough to call
Most poll analysis suggests the most likely scenario is another minority government – but a lot of factors can shift the eventual seat count for each party.
First of all, under Canada’s system of government, a federal election is really 338 separate races, with candidates from various political parties running in each of the country’s federal ridings (constituencies).
Looking at national polling numbers also don’t give a full picture of voting intentions across Canada. Sometimes, one party could have a strong showing in places with a lot of seats up for grabs like Quebec and Ontario, giving them the advantage.
Polls close in Ontario and Québec
The populous provinces of Quebec and Ontario have just shut their polls to in-person voting. Vote counting there will now begin. Voters in Canada’s Francophone province have been known to deliver a surprise on election night.
With multiple parties in the running, vote splitting can also come into play in some ridings.
More than a million Canadians voted by mail, and those votes won’t be counted until Tuesday. It is unclear if we’ll know enough results tonight to determine if one party can win a majority in parliament.
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You may also like to read a little on the background of why the general election in Canada was called.
Canada inflation hits 18-year high as Trudeau faces a tight race