The Liberal and NDP parties in Canada released their costed campaign platforms just over a week before the upcoming election. Liberal Leader Mark Carney presented the party’s commitments in Whitby, Ont., promising billions in new spending and a shift in priorities from the party’s 2021 platform. The focus is on increasing private-sector investment to counter the economic crisis caused by U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs. The 65-page document shows a change in the proportion of operating and capital spending within the government.
Advance voting began on Friday across the country, with voters flocking to polling stations. Carney is concentrating his campaign efforts on southern Ontario, with stops in Newcastle and Peterborough, where the Liberals are aiming to unseat Conservative incumbent Michelle Ferreri. Polls suggest a closer contest this time around after Ferrari won by several thousand votes in 2021. A third party group called No More MP Ferrari has registered with Elections Canada in an attempt to oust the incumbent.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh released his party’s platform in Burnaby, B.C., before heading to a rally in Victoria. The platform includes a wealth tax on “super-rich millionaires” to generate over $22 billion annually and $7 billion for mental health coverage. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is scheduled to hold a news conference in Richmond, B.C. Advance polls will continue through Monday, allowing voters to cast their ballots between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. local time.
The Canadian election campaign is heating up with the release of the Liberal and NDP costed campaign platforms, showing a clear contrast in priorities and strategies. Carney’s focus on attracting private-sector investment and stimulating the economy stands in contrast to the NDP’s proposal for a wealth tax on the super-rich. The campaign is intensifying in key battleground ridings, such as Peterborough, where incumbent Conservative Michelle Ferreri is facing a tough challenge from both the Liberals and a third party group.
As advance voting continues, party leaders are crisscrossing the country to rally support and present their platforms to voters. Carney’s whistle stop in Newcastle and rally in Peterborough, along with Singh’s events in Burnaby and Victoria, highlight the importance of key regions in the election. The platforms released by the Liberal and NDP parties offer voters a clear choice in terms of economic priorities, with each party presenting distinct plans for addressing the challenges facing Canada in the current global economic climate.
With just over a week left in the election campaign, the stakes are high for all parties involved. The Liberal and NDP platforms aim to appeal to voters by offering solutions to pressing issues such as economic recovery, mental health coverage, and income inequality. As Canadians head to the advance polls and prepare to make their voices heard on election day, the decision they make will shape the future direction of the country. The race to win over voters in key battleground ridings will continue as party leaders make their final push to secure support and emerge victorious on election day.
