The 2025 Canadian Federal election is taking place this Monday, April 28th. Advanced polls are also open!
The high cost of living and pressure of inflation underpin many voters’ concerns. Canadians simply want to feel economically secure and to have prosperous futures.
Here’s a summary of each party’s key promises.
Liberal Party
Under the leadership of former Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney, the Liberals have shifted towards centrist policies, focusing on economic stability, national security, and housing affordability.
Key Policies:
Taxation & Economy: Propose lowering the lowest income tax rate and eliminating the Goods and Services Tax (GST) for first-time homebuyers on homes up to $1 million.
Aim to balance the federal budget by 2028 while maintaining essential services.
Defence & Sovereignty: Plan to increase defence spending to meet NATO’s 2% GDP target by 2030, with investments in Arctic defence and emerging technologies like AI and quantum computing.
Trade & Foreign Policy: Seek to renegotiate economic ties with the U.S. post-election and remove interprovincial trade barriers to support agriculture and diversify international trade.
Housing: Commit to major investments in housing, including incentives for municipal reforms to increase housing supply.
Climate & Energy: Focus on green energy investments and aim to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
Conservative Party
Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives emphasize fiscal conservatism, energy independence, and law and order, with a platform appealing to both traditional conservatives and populist sentiments.
Key Policies:
Taxation & Economy: Propose reducing the lowest income tax bracket by 15% and eliminating the capital gains tax on reinvestments. Aim to significantly reduce the federal deficit.
Energy & Environment: Plan to eliminate the industrial carbon tax and fast-track approvals for energy projects, promoting technological solutions for emissions reduction.
Housing: Pledge substantial tax relief and incentives for municipal reforms to increase housing supply, including selling off 15% of federal buildings for conversion into affordable housing. (Pierre Poilievre)
Defence & Security: Propose strengthening Arctic defences and imposing tougher penalties for serious crimes, including creating a national register for convicted child sexual offenders.
Immigration: Advocate for linking immigration numbers to housing availability and healthcare capacity, with a focus on reducing asylum seekers and temporary residents.
New Democratic Party
The NDP, led by Jagmeet Singh, positions itself as a progressive alternative, emphasizing social justice, healthcare, and environmental sustainability.
Key Policies:
Healthcare: Advocate for a universal pharmacare program and a single-payer healthcare system to ensure comprehensive coverage for all Canadians.
Income Support: Propose implementing a guaranteed livable income to reduce poverty and income inequality.
Climate Change: Call for a transition to renewable energy sources and a ban on fossil fuel extraction to address climate change aggressively.
Green Party of Canada
The Green Party focuses on environmental issues, social justice, and participatory democracy, advocating for systemic changes to address climate change and social inequalities. It is co-lead by Elizabeth May and Jonathan Pedneault.
Key Policies:
Climate & Energy: Aim to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, with a focus on renewable energy and ending fossil fuel extraction.
Healthcare: Propose introducing pharmacare and publicly funded basic dental care, especially for children with financial needs.
Education: Advocate for free post-secondary education and student debt cancellation programs for debts exceeding $10,000.
Electoral Reform: Support implementing a proportional representation system to ensure fairer representation in Parliament.
Bloc Québécois
The Bloc Québécois focuses on promoting Quebec’s interests and sovereignty, emphasizing the protection of French language and culture. The Bloc is led by Yves-François Blanchet.
Key Policies:
Quebec Sovereignty: Advocate for policies that support Quebec’s autonomy and the promotion of its unique identity within Canada.
Senior Support: Emphasis on improving seniors’ access to Old Age Security benefits and increase them by 10%.
Healthcare: Plans to streamline the process of receiving MAID (medical assistance in dying) and ensure it is ethical for suffering patients.
Language & Culture: Emphasize the protection and promotion of the French language and Quebec’s cultural heritage.
Environment: Support environmental initiatives that align with Quebec’s interests and priorities.
People’s Party of Canada
The PPC, led by Maxime Bernier, promotes libertarian and populist policies, focusing on individual freedoms, limited government, and skepticism towards climate change initiatives.
Key Policies:
Freedom & Governance: Advocate for minimal government intervention in personal freedoms and economic activities.
Healthcare: Support a shift to more private healthcare options and enhanced provincial responsibility for care provided.
Climate Change: Express skepticism towards climate change policies, opposing carbon taxes and government-led environmental initiatives.
Immigration: Call for reduced immigration levels and stricter border controls to preserve Canadian identity and manage resources.
For more information about each party’s platform and promises, click here.
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