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With just one week left until Canadians head to the polls, party leaders are crisscrossing the country in a final push to win over voters. On the campaign trail today, major announcements focused on housing, healthcare, and the economy — while tributes poured in for the late Pope Francis.
With just one week left until Canadians head to the polls, party leaders are crisscrossing the country in a final push to win over voters. On the campaign trail today, major announcements focused on housing, healthcare, and the economy — while tributes poured in for the late Pope Francis.
Carney: Bold Spending in Response to a Global Crisis
Liberal Leader Mark Carney defended his ambitious $130 billion spending plan during a stop in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, arguing that extraordinary times require extraordinary action.
“We are in the midst of the worst crisis of our lifetimes,” said Carney, pointing to global instability and Canada’s tense trade relationship with the United States. “This is a fundamental reordering of the global economy. We must build, invest, and lead.”
Carney acknowledged that his plan would see the federal government run deficits until at least 2028–2029 but insisted that spending would be kept under control at around two per cent. “We believe we can beat that target. This is a prudent and necessary approach,” he said.
He also took a shot at Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre for not releasing his fully costed platform. “He’s hiding it,” Carney claimed, underscoring the Liberals’ message of transparency and planning.
Poilievre Vows to Tackle Housing Crisis with 2.3M New Homes
Speaking in Toronto, Pierre Poilievre unveiled a sweeping housing plan that would aim to build 2.3 million new homes across Canada over five years.
“Life has become unaffordable under the Liberals,” Poilievre said. “Young people can’t even dream of homeownership anymore. That ends with us.”
His plan includes cutting GST on new homes under $1.3 million, slashing development fees, and compelling cities to increase housing approvals by 15 per cent annually — by tying federal infrastructure funding to their compliance.
The Conservatives also propose selling off 15 per cent of the federal government’s real estate portfolio to unlock land for housing development.
Health Care at the Heart of the Liberal Campaign
Carney also spotlighted a comprehensive health-care strategy, promising the construction of new medical schools, recruitment of international medical professionals, and the modernization of local care centres.
“In the U.S., health care is a business. In Canada, it’s a right — one my government will protect and invest in,” he said.
The plan also includes a $500-million initiative to address the opioid crisis, commitments to pharmacare and dental care, and continued support for abortion services.
Tributes to Pope Francis
Both Carney and Poilievre offered heartfelt condolences following the death of Pope Francis at age 88.
Carney, a practising Catholic, called the late pope a “voice of moral clarity and boundless compassion,” recalling his 2022 apology to Indigenous communities in Canada for the Church’s role in residential school abuses.
Quoting one of Pope Francis’s metaphors, Carney said: “He reminded us that markets don’t have values — people do. And it is our job to reintegrate those human values into our economies.”
Poilievre praised Francis as a source of inspiration for millions around the globe. “He was a spiritual beacon not just for Catholics, but for people of all faiths,” Poilievre said from Toronto. “Our prayers are with all Catholics during this time of mourning.”
Where the Leaders Are Today
Mark Carney (Liberal): Charlottetown, then heading to Truro and Fredericton for campaign events and rallies.
Pierre Poilievre (Conservative): Focused on key battlegrounds in Ontario, starting with a press conference in Scarborough.
Jagmeet Singh (NDP): Campaigning across British Columbia, including stops in Nanaimo, Comox, and Port Moody.
Yves-François Blanchet (Bloc Québécois): Attending events in Quebec City and Saint-Irénée, before watching the Canadiens face the Capitals tonight.
Green Party Co-Leaders: Jonathan Pedneault and Elizabeth May are canvassing in their home ridings of Outremont and Saanich–Gulf Islands.
Record Turnout at Advance Polls
Elections Canada reports that over two million Canadians voted during the first three days of advance polling, setting a new record. Today marks the final day for early voting before the April 17 election.
