Richard Froese
Well, the federal election is over after voters cast their ballots April 28 – or earlier!
Interest appeared to be higher – if advance voting was any indication. Elections Canada reports a record two million people voted in the advance polls from April 18-21 – the Easter long weekend.
Many advance polls also reported people were eager to cast their ballots even before doors to the polling stations opened at 9 a.m.
One polling clerk in High Prairie reported that people started arriving at the High Prairie Legion at 8:30 a.m. and created a long lineup outside.
A record 7.3 million voters cast ballots at the advance polls across Canada, up from 5.8 million in the previous election in 2021, a 25 per cent increase, Elections Canada reports.
This editorial was written days before the election day and results reported.
As expected from the start of the campaign, it was a two-horse race between the reigning Liberal party under Leader Mark Carney and the Conservative party and Leader Pierre Poilievre.
Heading into the final week, opinion polls showed a narrow lead for the Liberals. An Ispos poll had the Liberals in front with 41 per cent support, followed by the Conservatives with 38 per cent.
Opinion polls aside, the only important numbers are the results after counting the ballots.
Does the record numbers at advance polls mean that Conservative voters were eager to get their votes in early?
In the past, election experts have said that when people want a change in government, they cast their votes early.
The current Liberal government has been in power since the federal election Oct. 29, 2015.
It seems that a majority government in the 2025 was unreachable with the tight opinion polls.
Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba have been predominantly Conservative country while other provinces are mostly a Liberal sea of red.
The Conservatives were pushing their platform to gain seats in eastern Canada during the campaign.
History has shown that in previous federal and provincial elections that the party leading in the opinion polls have the election.
It’s time for a change!
And experience is important in tough economic times.
The Conservatives have a leader who has experience as an MP for 21 years and party leader since September 2022.
The Liberals have a leader who has been in any elected government office for only one month.
For a fun prediction, the Conservatives win with a minority government.
So what will that mean for the other parties and leaders?
Opinion polls have indicated the New Democratic Party and Leader Jagmeet Singh were low in support and could even lose party status with 12 seats required in the House of Commons.
It may be the end for Singh as leader.