Canada’s conservative darling has gone from leading the polls by double digits to barely scraping by in the run up to the April 28 election.
Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre, who has been described by media outlets as Canada’s version of President Donald Trump, held a nearly 25 point lead in CBC polling averages going into January 2025. However, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s pending resignation and replacement with banker Mark Carney, the liberals are now leading in the polls with just a month left until Canadians cast their votes.
Trudeau’s approval rating was historically bad leading up to his resignation announcement in December 2024, with 74% of voters disapproving of his administration, according to the Angus Reid Institute
Trudeau leaves behind a controversial legacy, playing a large part in increased censorship, immigration and refugee resettlement and costly climate initiatives.
Trump has played an outsized role in Canada’s upcoming elections, with tariffs on the nation becoming a key issue in the run up to April election day. Poilievre has promised to shake up Canada if elected, but voters may be okay with more liberal control if it means less uncertainty, conservative strategist Kory Teneycke told the Wall Street Journal.
Poilievre has tried to distance himself from Trump over his rhetoric on tariffs and a hypothetical annexation of Canada as the 51st state, insisting that Canada retain its independence while working out a trade deal with America. U.S, relations quickly became a top issue for Canadian voters, which partly soured the Conservative Party’s favorability among the public.
Carney, while trying to distance himself from Trudeau, holds much of the same liberal positions as opposed to Poilievre’s center-right conservatism.
Carney has advocated for climate issues while serving as the United Nations (UN) special envoy on climate change and finance. Moreover, he said net zero policies represent a “clear goal” for the financial sector in a 2021 UN interview.
By contrast, Poilievre has been a leading advocate for slashing environmental regulations and strengthening Canadian energy independence.
The Conservative Party of Canada did not respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
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