Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s political gamble is underway as the country’s voters decide if he retains his position of head of state. The elections, however, have a few pressure points that may play a substantial part in the outcome.

The major issues that may help voters decide their preferred candidate are the most pressing issues in the country. Most of these issues are seen with a different political lens by both major candidates, PM Justin Trudeau –of the liberal party– and Erin O’Toole, who is representing the conservative party.

Climate change

The conservative side in the ongoing elections in Canada entered the campaign with a carbon tax plan, which was the very first one introduced by the party after years of opposing such measures. On the flip side, Trudeau treated climate change as a priority issue and has introduced and backed multiple such initiatives.

Canada’s economy

Canada’s economic recovery from the dent created by the COVID-19 pandemic was rapid when compared to most countries. Nearly all jobs that were lost during the shutdown were recovered, however, at the cost of debts and deficits.

Conservative leader O’Toole introduced spending plans that were almost similar to those pushed by Trudeau. However, he tweaked his plans by promising a budget balance within a decade, an idea that has been shrugged of by economists, according to reports from the New York Times.

COVID-19

The coronavirus pandemic has been one of the biggest pressure points in the ongoing snap elections in Canada. It also acts as a vector of difference between the two parties.

While a strong vaccine mandate, including layouts for travel and federal workers, is supported by the liberal side, O’Toole’s conservative side is known to be against the mandates. 

Canada has recorded one of the highest inoculation rates around the globe and has gained praise for its way of handling the COVID-19 pandemic.

Even though these points may provide the biggest voter push, other factors such as cultural integration, the Afghanistan crisis and gun control are also expected to play a major role in the election outcome.