Commentators are treating Canada’s current federal election as a case study in the “Trump effect.” Until a few weeks ago, the Conservative Party dominated the polls — thanks in part to Pierre Poilievre, whose churlish mimicry of MAGA rhetoric included claims of a nonexistent immigrant crime wave and accusations that every part of government is broken. But after Donald Trump mused provocatively about annexing Canada and imposed new tariffs on Canadian goods, voters have swung overwhelmingly toward the Liberal Party.
Under Mark Carney, the Liberals are trying to position themselves as moderate yet assertive defenders of Canadian national interests. Carney has scored points by rapidly imposing retaliatory tariffs on some US-made cars, and signaling an interest in strengthening ties to Europe. Meanwhile, support for the social democratic New Democratic Party (NDP) — a partner in the last Liberal-led minority government — has collapsed so dramatically that polls project them to win as little as 1 or 2 percent of the seats in parliament.
The panicked retreat to the center is clearly a response to Trump’s belligerence. But this election also highlights the visionlessness of Canadian economic policy. Both the Liberals and the NDP have long pledged to make Canada less dependent on fossil fuels, especially the catastrophically polluting Alberta oil sands. Now, they also want to reduce dependence on American imports. Yet neither party has offered a serious account of how these goals might be realized. Instead of detailed platforms, they’ve relied on platitudes about tax cuts and job creation.
Ottawa’s aversion to risk on industrial policy appears stronger than ever — despite growing pressure for change. Over the past twenty-odd…
Auteur: Niko Block
