CANADIANS VOTE IN HIGH-STAKES ELECTION AS TRUMP LOOMS OVER CAMPAIGN

An Emirati Magazine publication – Released on April 28,2025 | www.emiratimagazine.com

Canadians head to the polls Monday amid high tensions, following a fatal car ramming attack Saturday in Vancouver that briefly suspended election campaigning. Police ruled out terrorism, citing mental health issues. Beyond domestic tragedy, the election has taken on an international dimension rarely seen since 1988, when free trade with the U.S. dominated debates. This time, it’s Donald Trump. After winning a second term, Trump’s threats to Canada’s economy and sovereignty — even suggesting it become the 51st U.S. state — shifted the election’s focus dramatically.

Prime Minister Mark Carney, warning that “the Americans want to break us so they can own us,” frames the vote as a defense of Canadian independence. Meanwhile, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, who initially campaigned against Justin Trudeau’s legacy of rising costs and immigration, now faces comparisons to Trump himself. A record 7.3 million Canadians have already voted early, signaling deep anxiety about the future.