Record numbers of voters have already cast their ballots in the federal election and there’s still another five days before Canadians choose the candidates to represent them in the House of Commons.
In Newfoundland and Labrador, candidates are learning a lot from constituents about what’s on their minds in what many believe is one of the most important Canadian election campaigns in modern history.
The spectre of Donald Trump’s presidency in the United States and the uncertainty created by his tariffs policy and musings about Canada becoming a 51st state are looming large over this year’s election.
Cost of Living
Conservative candidate in the riding of Cape Spear, Corey Curtis, says he’s hearing a lot from voters about affordability.
“People are concerned with the cost of living, and how things have been in Newfoundland and Labrador over the last number of years.” Curtis says the housing crisis is also a topic that keeps coming up. “We have the ability here in Newfoundland and Labrador to be really prosperous from our resources—one is people, but it’s our offshore development and our fishery as well.”
Trump’s Tariff Threats
(@WhiteHouse/X)
Former broadcaster Anthony Germain is running for the Liberals in Terra Nova – The Peninsulas. He says the potential impact of Trump’s tariffs on industry in the riding is on a lot of people’s minds.
“For example on the Burin Peninsula, which has a number of industries, there’s a lot of concern about mining and whether or not Trump wakes up in a bad mood today does that mean he’s going to put tariffs back on?” That goes for a range of industries in the riding including aquaculture, the fluorspar mine, forestry…seafood. There’s an exemption right now, but there’s a lot of anxiety because it’s become so unstable.”
Health Care, Housing, Cost of Living
Mary Shortall, who is running for the NDP in St. John’s East, says health care and housing are huge issues for the people she’s been speaking with.
“I can’t tell you how many heart-breaking stories I hear from people who are in substandard housing, or they can’t find housing, or they’re couch-surfing, or they’re afraid because their mortgage is being renewed.” Grocery prices and gas are also contributing to the rising cost of living, and “the other issue that I’m hearing a lot about is access to health care.”
