Week 2 Federal Election Coverage
The federal campaign's second week was predictably sidetracked and dominated by President Trump’s “Liberation Day” and global tariff response. The Liberal Party of Canada has made responding to Trump’s tariffs and administration a key election issue. At the same time, the Conservative Party of Canada remains focused on the problems at home, including affordability, housing, and energy. The New Democratic Party of Canada continues to lag behind the two main parties, with little success in week two in offering a compelling alternative for more progressive voters.
Below is a summary of notable events, as of this morning, April 4, as well as the announcements and commitments from the Liberal Party of Canada, Conservative Party of Canada, and New Democratic Party of Canada.
General / Notable Mentions
- President Trump’s “Liberation Day” took place on the evening of April 2 and will have serious ramifications for the global economy and trade. The President’s unpredictability continues to create uncertainty for governments, businesses, and consumers around the world.
- Radio-Canada’s Cinq chefs’ party leader interviews took place on April 3, highlighting the economy, Trump’s threats, and the French language.
Liberals
In week two of our election coverage, Prime Minister Mark Carney has traveled from Central Canada (GTA) to the West (Winnipeg) trying to build momentum for the Liberal Party of Canada across the country. On top of the election, Carney was forced to respond to Trump’s most recent tariffs on the country, and stated “supply management is off the table in any negotiations” with the U.S. Prime Minister Mark Carney is going back and forth between governing as the Prime Minister and campaigning – a difficult balance for any party leader.
Announcements
- Canada to become a leader in pre-fabricated (pre-fab) and modular housing: Double the rate of new home construction and create new entity “Build Canada Homes” to serve as the developer and financer for affordable housing construction projects.
- Nearly 500,000 new homes per year
- Provide more than $25 billion in financing to pre-fab homebuilders and $10 billion in low-cost financing and capital to builders of affordable homes
- Government to transfer affordable housing programming to the new agency from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
- Strengthen Canada’s agri-food sector and maintain production quotas that have caused friction in trade talks with the U.S.
- The party says its plan to protect farmers involves cutting regulations and earmarking $200 million for domestic food processing.
- The Liberals say they also would make permanent the recent doubling of the AgriStability payment cap to $6 million.
- In his role as Prime Minister, he announced a 25 per cent tariff on non-Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement compliant vehicles.
Conservatives
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre visited three Atlantic provinces this week, stopping in Saint John, Fredericton, St. John’s, Charlottetown, and Borden-Carleton, in addition to Ontario. Poilievre continues to attract the largest crowds seen this election at his rallies across Canada, indicating strong support despite polling that continues to have the Liberals ahead. This week, the Conservative Party focused on responding to tariffs, energy, and more tax reform.
Announcements
- Pledged to speed up the development of the Port of Churchill and honour federal funding for the North End Sewage Treatment Plant in Winnipeg.
- Also lift a $4000 cap on how many travel expenses, such as food and accommodation, trade workers can deduct from their taxes
- Energy Corridor announcement.
- Fast track approvals for energy infrastructure in a pre-approved energy corridor within Canada
- Repeated earlier promise to pass law for mandatory life sentences for people found guilty of trafficking fentanyl on a large scale.
- Deferral tax on capital gains if earnings are reinvested in Canada. The deferral tax window would be open for 18 months beginning in July.
- Promised to enact five demands from the energy sector, including:
- Streamlined regulation of projects
- Six-month deadlines for project approvals
- End to the emissions cap
- End to the industrial carbon price
- Provision of Indigenous loan guarantees “at scale”
- Eliminate automatic annual tax increases on alcohol, bringing the tax rate to 2017 levels.
- Renegotiate the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement ahead of its revision in 2026. Seek a pause on all tariffs during negotiation. Support retaliatory tariffs targeting U.S. goods that can be produced in Canada and elsewhere. Temporary loan program ($3 billion fund) for impacted businesses to keep their employees working during the trade war.
- Cut federal sales tax from Canadian-made vehicles to support the auto industry.
NDP
The NDP has not gained traction during week two of the campaign. Despite their efforts to hold and target progressive voters, public opinion polling across the board indicates their support is moving to the Liberals. It continues to be difficult, maybe even impossible, for the NDP to take centre stage between the Liberals and Conservatives.
Announcements
- Retrofit 3.3 million homes and pay for it by cutting supports for big oil and gas companies.
- 2.3 million low-income homes to get free energy-saving retrofits, such as heat pumps, air sealing, fresh insulation
- Spend would be $1.5 billion each year over 10 years to complete upgrades
- An additional $300 million per year to expand the Canada Green Homes Initiative to allow an additional 1 million homes to finance similar retrofits with low-cost loans, saving households up to $4500 each year on energy bills
- Pledged to maintain the industrial carbon tax and keep Canada’s emission cap.
- Introduce a “broader carbon adjustment” to apply to imported goods from countries without an industrial carbon tax (for example, China).
- Proposed tax-free savings bonds, “Canada Victory Bonds” to be available in five year and 10-year terms with a compounding interest rate of 3.5 per cent.