In the aftermath of Canada's recent federal election, Bernie Sanders, a seasoned U.S. Senator from Vermont, expressed gratitude to President Donald Trump.
Sanders, a two-time contender for the Democratic presidential nomination, attributed the defeat of Canada's Conservative Party to Trump's influence.
"Thank you, President Trump. Two months ago, your conservative friends were 25 points ahead in the polls. Yesterday, they lost," Sanders posted on social media, insinuating that the Conservative candidate, Pierre Poilievre, was an extremist. "It only took 100 days for you to convince Canadians that the far right has no place in government. Americans will say the same in our next election."
As reported by The Post Millennial, these remarks were made in the wake of the Liberal Party's unexpected victory, securing a fourth consecutive term under the leadership of Mark Carney, former governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England. Prior to the election, the Conservative Party was predicted to win, bolstered by strong poll numbers and widespread dissatisfaction with former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
However, the political landscape shifted dramatically following a series of unforeseen events. Trudeau stepped down in the wake of Trump's return to the White House, which was accompanied by escalating tensions between the U.S. and Canada. Trump's repeated threats to Canada's sovereignty and his suggestion of Canada becoming America's "51st state" stirred anxieties over trade relations and significantly altered the tone of the campaign.
Simultaneously, the New Democratic Party (NDP), which had previously supported Trudeau's Liberal government through an informal agreement, crumbled under the leadership of Jagmeet Singh, who announced his resignation following the election.
Pre-election polling by Abacus revealed a late surge in support for the Liberals. The final survey, conducted between April 24 and April 27, indicated a shift in voter concerns from a desire for "change" to worries about "stability." While 53 percent of Canadians still expressed a desire for change, 47 percent were more concerned about the implications of Trump's return to power and the potential risks to Canada's sovereignty and international reputation.
This shift in voter sentiment played into the hands of the Liberals, who were perceived as more capable of representing Canada on the global stage, managing Trump, and supporting Ukraine. Despite maintaining dominance on domestic issues such as cost of living, housing, and deficit reduction, the Conservatives, under Poilievre's leadership, fell short.
Poilievre, a veteran MP for Carleton, not only lost the election but also his seat in Parliament, which he had held for nearly two decades. Conservative insiders anticipate that he will seek a by-election in another riding.
Political analyst Scott Reid, former director of communications under ex-Prime Minister Paul Martin, stated that Poilievre has no plans to resign as party leader. Conservative strategist Jamie Ellerton echoed this sentiment, predicting Poilievre's return to Parliament. However, Ellerton noted that Ottawa leaned heavily Liberal in this election, contrasting with the Conservative-friendly rural ridings surrounding the capital.
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