Canadian Voters Rally Against Trump; Record Early Turnout in General Election

Anti-American Sentiment Drives Voters to the Polls
Trump's Tariff Pressure and Annexation Remarks Sway Election
Ruling Liberal Party Likely to Extend Its Hold on Power

The BBC and The Guardian reported on the 22nd (local time) that the number of people who participated in early voting for the upcoming Canadian general election on the 28th has reached an all-time high. The Conservative Party, which was initially expected to win the election, saw its approval rating plummet due to U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff threats, making it increasingly likely that the ruling Liberal Party will extend its hold on power.

According to Elections Canada, 7.3 million people?equivalent to a quarter of the total 28.9 million eligible voters?participated in early voting held from the 18th to the 21st.

This figure represents a 25% increase compared to the early voting turnout in the 2021 general election, when 5.8 million people voted early. On the first day of early voting alone, the 18th, 2 million people cast their ballots.

The number of mail-in voters also rose to 754,000, up from 660,000 in the 2021 general election.

Foreign media outlets have analyzed that President Trump's tariff and annexation threats have heightened anti-American sentiment, prompting more voters to head to the polls.

Jasmeet Singh, leader of the New Democratic Party and an immigrant of Sikh origin from India, is meeting supporters at a federal election campaign event held in Edmonton, Alberta on the 22nd (local time). Photo by AP and Yonhap News

With five days remaining until the Canadian general election, the political landscape has been completely transformed by President Trump's tariff threats. According to the poll tracker published by Canadian broadcaster CBC, which compiles various opinion polls, the Liberal Party's approval rating stood at 43.1% as of the 22nd, surpassing the Conservative Party's 38.4%.

The Liberal government, led by former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, had seen its approval ratings decline due to public dissatisfaction over high inflation and rising housing prices.

The Conservative Party, led by Pierre Poilievre?often referred to as "Canada's Trump" and once considered the leading candidate for the next prime minister?was initially expected to win. However, after President Trump took office and began applying tariff pressure while repeatedly stating that he would annex Canada as the 51st state of the United States, the political landscape shifted.

Analysts say that President Trump's actions toward Canada have stirred Canadian patriotism, causing voters to rally around the current government.

Additionally, Mark Carney, the new leader of the Liberal Party, has emphasized his experience as the head of both the Canadian and British central banks, presenting himself as a stable candidate capable of responding to a trade war with the United States, which has helped boost the party's approval ratings.