Canada’s federal election results, on 28th of April, illustrated the polarisation of political ideologies that is continuing to unfold in society. The crisis of capitalism is creating an increased cost of living, a lack of affordable housing and general economic and social instability. As a result of these developments, uncertainty, fear, anger and frustration among workers and young people continues to grow. Therefore, the question of who to blame and how to solve these issues underlying the narrative of the election campaign.
Under the leadership of the former governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, the Liberal Party was re-elected into a minority parliament. As with other recent election results internationally, such as Australia and Singapore, Trump’s tariffs, ideology, and ensuing threats of increased economic instability have been cited for determining how many people used their votes – the “Trump effect.” In Canada, the proximity, and close economic ties to the USA, in addition to Trump’s ongoing threats to turn Canada into the ‘51st’ state, heavily influenced the direction of the election.
Election polls last year were projecting a Conservative win. However, the Conservative leader, Pierre Poilievre, was widely regarded as being ideologically closer to Trump. Many voters used their votes strategically to either increase or decrease the chance of a Conservative win depending on who they saw themselves as being most ideologically aligned with. As a result, the Liberals won their minority with 168 of the 343 parliamentary seats with the Conservatives winning 143 seats. Despite the fear of a conservative win, the Liberals are also unable to offer an alternative to the issues facing the working class.
According to ‘elections Canada’, 68.65% of voters went to the polls, which is a similar turnout to the 2021, 2019 and 2015 federal elections. The difference with this election was the impact the polarisation of votes had on parties such as the centre-left New Democratic Party (NDP). With just less than 10% of seats not taken by the Liberals or Conservatives, in what became a two-way race, losses for the federal NDP were significant. The NDP went from 24 seats to 7 seats which removed their status as an official parliamentary opposition party. In addition to losing several long-held NDP ridings [constituencies], they also lost their Burnaby South seat in British Columbia, which was held by their leader, Jagmeet Singh. As a result, Singh resigned as the NDP leader the night of the election.
NDP policies not radical enough
The NDP ran on a platform that called for increased pharmacare and dental care, against privatisation of healthcare, and campaigned on commitments regarding indigenous rights throughout Canada. They also campaigned on a general platform of ‘fairness’, such as promising to introduce a 2% surtax on any cooperation earning over $500 million in profits. Although on the surface these policies may have been perceived positively among a layer of workers and youth looking for an alternative to the parties of big business, the NDP did not present a radical enough campaign to enable them to swing enough votes in their favour. The NDP had the backing of many trade union leaders. But the fear of the conservatives winning, combined with the NDP’s weak platform that capitulates to capitalism by appealing for the system to be ‘nicer’ and ‘fairer’, only resulted in a devastating loss to their federal organisation. If and how the NDP rebuild federally from this blow remains to be seen. While choosing a new leader, internal discussions on their direction ideologically are sure to be taking place. At this stage, there is no indication that the future of the NDP is likely to take a turn to the left with a socialist platform. Therefore, the continued need for workers and young people to build their own organisation remains an urgent task.
In addition to losses for the NDP, the Green party is left with just one MP. The centre-left nationalist Bloc Quebecois, led by Yves-François Blanchet, won 23 seats in Quebec. However, this is a drop of 11 seats from the 2021 federal election. Although Blanchet cites the anti-Trump sentiment as the reason for their losses, the lack of a viable fighting alternative offered to workers and youth in Quebec by the Bloc also played a significant factor in their votes.
In a somewhat unexpected turn of events, the leader of the Conservatives, Poilievre, lost his seat in Carleton. He had held the Ottawa area riding for 21 years and now has lost it to a Liberal newcomer. Hit by the anti-Trump vote Poilievre lost to the Liberals.
As a protest towards the first-past-the-post voting system, and in favour of electoral reform, a group organised people to stand multiple candidates in Poilievre’s riding, accounting for 85 of the 91 candidates on the ballot. It is possible this strategy had an impact on some votes and highlights an ongoing discussion around electoral reform, especially given the two-party race that the election became.
Conservative’s right wing trajectory
Regardless of the Conservatives not winning this election, their direction is likely to continue a right-wing trajectory, feeding off the discontent and anger that exists in society. Poilievre says he will remain the leader of the Conservatives. An MP in Alberta, Western Canada, has volunteered to step down to trigger a by-election in the hope Poilievre will win that seat.
Anger over the cost of living, and issues such as the economic direction of the natural resource industry, which Alberta is heavily reliant on, has been used to galvanise support for right-wing populist ideological rhetoric among a section of disenfranchised working class. It is no accident Poilievre is looking to gain a seat in what is touted as a strong conservative area of Alberta. Alberta’s premier, Danielle Smith, who is the leader of the United Conservative Party, has been criticised for her stance in support of much of Trump’s rhetoric but she continues to build support as a right-wing populist.
Racism in the form of attempting to side-line and roll back the rights of First Nation, Inuit and Metis communities, alongside the use of anti-immigration propaganda, sexism and hate speech towards the LTBQIA2S+ community, is being unashamedly to exploit and build upon a right-wing agenda in communities throughout Canada.
International economic and social unrest is worsening as capitalism is increasingly unable to create an illusion of stability for the working class. With that in mind, what is desperately lacking in Canada, and was evident during the election, is a mass socialist party built democratically by and for the working class to fight capitalism.
First Nations
Canada encompasses a vast geographic land mass made up of ten provinces and three territories, which differ in terms of economies, history, and culture. All have a rich working-class history of struggle and solidarity. These strengths, together with democratic unions and communities, can be built upon to fight for a socialist alternative to capitalism.
The experience of the brutal consequences of colonisation, and the continued racism and segregation towards indigenous communities from a working-class perspective, is fundamental to building a mass workers party in Canada. Metis, Inuit and First Nation communities continue to organise and strengthen their voices, which is creating a new generation of leaders who are fighting for a better world.
There are millions of workers and young people in Canada and internationally who are looking for an alternative to poverty, war, hunger, and division created by capitalism. A glimpse at the barbarism that is taking place in Gaza is just one example that highlights how capitalism has failed humanity. It is time for the working class and youth to unite with our common goals, knowledge, and histories to fight for our future. To build a socialist world that meets the needs of all, not just the few.