I actually do think there is a bit of Carney-mania, though it's a more subdued, mature, very Canadian kind. This too is anecdotal or "vibe" based, but I recently was at an event and talked to about a dozen friends who are Millennials and habitual NDP supporters (as am I), and every single one - literally 100% - were enthusiastic about voting for Carney (not the Liberals) this time and effusive with praise for his skill and how he's the right man for the moment. Not sure if that translates elsewhere but I found it remarkable.
Wouldn’t it be a great thing if we could find—and put in power—politicians who can and will work together for the well-being of all Canadians, to ensure us of a decent place to live, the health care we need when we need it, public institutions properly maintained, and climate change addressed. That all of these crises developed and grew as a result of the decisions of elected representatives over the last 40 years is a crime.
I'll be very surprised if the turnout doesn't break 70% this time. Politics seems to be on everybody's mind. Canadian interest in American politics was especially high during the lead-up to the November elections, and it only grew after Trump's inauguration. "The Trump factor" has definitely led Canadians to consider the similarities and differences between us and our neighbours to the south. Do we want to be like them, or not? And what does it mean, in either case? I haven't met anyone or read any comment that suggests that this is "just another federal election" -- there is definitely a sense that something very crucial is at stake, and I expect that sentiment to inspire people to vote.
I definitely expect a higher turnout for all of the reasons you suggested. It would be even greater if Trudeau had followed through on his promise of electoral reform. If there is a Liberal victory (as the polls are showing) the West will be further alienated but PR could have mitigated some of that and encouraged future collaboration. I hope we can get PR this time around.
It does feel like interest in this election is deeper than the norm. As for signs, our Liberal candidate in Toronto Danforth told me they'd had more requests for signs in week 1 than in the whole of the 2021 election. My household doesn't like signs because they are, literally, land fill. Just one anecdote.....
On lawn signs: here in the People's Republic of Taiaiako'n-Parkdale-High Park the lawn sign game between the Libs and NDP is definitely on. Not a Con sign to be seen (but that's normal).
I'm hopeful we could see 70% or higher, but I haven't seen any election promises that could mobilize low-turnout voters, like legalizing weed likely did in 2015. Where are the promises that could get youth and low-turnout voters excited? Nothing seems to be breaking through. To my eyes, it's still a fear-driven election.
I know provincial elections are not federal elections, but didn't we just see an Ontario that was very clearly in the midst of crisis and with candidates that weren't all that dissimilar from the profiles we see in the national election, and they pulled around 45%? BC in October 2024 pulled 58.3% in what was a race that had almost more diametrically opposed candidates. Or would a 25 point margin between Ontario and Canada-wide turnout be normal?
I think I'm skeptical of the 70% mark for those reasons, but I'm also hearing a lot of "Are we screwed either way?" Which is a question that seems to me to lead straight to apathy.
The only caveat to this is that the polls have been consistently showing an LPC walk to victory. In some cases the inevitability of a win acts as a deterrent. Especially since the polls have been saying it for weeks already and by the time of election day it will have been months. I still think this is a motivated election though and Trump is not going to make it any less pressing for people to vote.
In my life-orbit, of mostly mid-50's GTA suburbanites, I've never seen a more polarized political/electoral environment. My 'LPC friends' are not voting for Carney as much as voting against Poilievre--even though they agree with much of the CPC policy. It's a bit of a nasty 'I just don't like him' kinda thing. Also, unlike in the past, most are unwilling to engage in dialogue/discussion. It's like political zombification, strange...and sad quite frankly.
My 'CPC friends' are relatively neutral on Poilievre, and are voting to seek change in Canada and simply remove the LPC in the election.
It'll be interesting to see if voter turnout exceeds 70%, but the CPC supporting friends are nearly 100% all-in to vote. The LPC supporting friends, hard to guage as noted above, are nearly non-communicative. FWIW.
I actually do think there is a bit of Carney-mania, though it's a more subdued, mature, very Canadian kind. This too is anecdotal or "vibe" based, but I recently was at an event and talked to about a dozen friends who are Millennials and habitual NDP supporters (as am I), and every single one - literally 100% - were enthusiastic about voting for Carney (not the Liberals) this time and effusive with praise for his skill and how he's the right man for the moment. Not sure if that translates elsewhere but I found it remarkable.
Wouldn’t it be a great thing if we could find—and put in power—politicians who can and will work together for the well-being of all Canadians, to ensure us of a decent place to live, the health care we need when we need it, public institutions properly maintained, and climate change addressed. That all of these crises developed and grew as a result of the decisions of elected representatives over the last 40 years is a crime.
Janet we can get politicians who work together with proportional representation.
I'll be very surprised if the turnout doesn't break 70% this time. Politics seems to be on everybody's mind. Canadian interest in American politics was especially high during the lead-up to the November elections, and it only grew after Trump's inauguration. "The Trump factor" has definitely led Canadians to consider the similarities and differences between us and our neighbours to the south. Do we want to be like them, or not? And what does it mean, in either case? I haven't met anyone or read any comment that suggests that this is "just another federal election" -- there is definitely a sense that something very crucial is at stake, and I expect that sentiment to inspire people to vote.
I definitely expect a higher turnout for all of the reasons you suggested. It would be even greater if Trudeau had followed through on his promise of electoral reform. If there is a Liberal victory (as the polls are showing) the West will be further alienated but PR could have mitigated some of that and encouraged future collaboration. I hope we can get PR this time around.
Right on.
Voter turnout is higher when every vote counts.
Germany, a country with a population double that of Canada, uses proportional representation and got a voter turnout of 84% in February 2025.
It does feel like interest in this election is deeper than the norm. As for signs, our Liberal candidate in Toronto Danforth told me they'd had more requests for signs in week 1 than in the whole of the 2021 election. My household doesn't like signs because they are, literally, land fill. Just one anecdote.....
On lawn signs: here in the People's Republic of Taiaiako'n-Parkdale-High Park the lawn sign game between the Libs and NDP is definitely on. Not a Con sign to be seen (but that's normal).
I'm hopeful we could see 70% or higher, but I haven't seen any election promises that could mobilize low-turnout voters, like legalizing weed likely did in 2015. Where are the promises that could get youth and low-turnout voters excited? Nothing seems to be breaking through. To my eyes, it's still a fear-driven election.
I really hope there is a higher than normal turnout. The more people that make the effort to vote, the better.
IDK. My interest is higher in this election, but my feelings are:
Singh is irrelevant and has no policy
Pollievere is an asshole with no policy
Carney is the responsible adult (sure) with more of the same from before with Trudeau.
Where do we get to abundance and a strong country from these losers?
I know provincial elections are not federal elections, but didn't we just see an Ontario that was very clearly in the midst of crisis and with candidates that weren't all that dissimilar from the profiles we see in the national election, and they pulled around 45%? BC in October 2024 pulled 58.3% in what was a race that had almost more diametrically opposed candidates. Or would a 25 point margin between Ontario and Canada-wide turnout be normal?
I think I'm skeptical of the 70% mark for those reasons, but I'm also hearing a lot of "Are we screwed either way?" Which is a question that seems to me to lead straight to apathy.
The only caveat to this is that the polls have been consistently showing an LPC walk to victory. In some cases the inevitability of a win acts as a deterrent. Especially since the polls have been saying it for weeks already and by the time of election day it will have been months. I still think this is a motivated election though and Trump is not going to make it any less pressing for people to vote.
In my life-orbit, of mostly mid-50's GTA suburbanites, I've never seen a more polarized political/electoral environment. My 'LPC friends' are not voting for Carney as much as voting against Poilievre--even though they agree with much of the CPC policy. It's a bit of a nasty 'I just don't like him' kinda thing. Also, unlike in the past, most are unwilling to engage in dialogue/discussion. It's like political zombification, strange...and sad quite frankly.
My 'CPC friends' are relatively neutral on Poilievre, and are voting to seek change in Canada and simply remove the LPC in the election.
It'll be interesting to see if voter turnout exceeds 70%, but the CPC supporting friends are nearly 100% all-in to vote. The LPC supporting friends, hard to guage as noted above, are nearly non-communicative. FWIW.
Right on.
Voter turnout is higher in elections with proportional representation.
Germany's voter turnout in its February 2025, winter, proportional representation election was 84%.