Regina voters talk Trump’s trade war as federal election looms

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Regina voters won’t have much time to prepare for a potentially key moment in Canadian history after Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed over the weekend that a snap election will be held on April 28.

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The imminent federal vote was top of mind Sunday as locals soaked up some sun and talked politics in anticipation of casting their ballots just five weeks from now. It comes at a pivotal juncture as the Canadian economy faces mounting threats from trade wars with the U.S. and China — not to mention other significant issues within Canada’s own borders.

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Regina resident Wayne Wyatt says he votes in every election and usually supports the NDP, “but they have no hope” in the upcoming polls, he said.

Instead, Wyatt plans to vote for the Liberal Party because he trusts Carney to navigate tariff threats by U.S. President Donald Trump due to the newcomer’s background as a central banker.

“I don’t like (Trump’s) ideas of Canada being the 51st state, and I think Carney will be the best person to take on Donald Trump,” Wyatt said Sunday while taking a walk in the Cathedral neighbourhood.

“That’s one of the main reasons why I would vote for him.”

Carney met with Gov. Gen. Mary Simon on Sunday to request that Parliament be dissolved in order to formalize the coming election. Carney joined Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre and NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh in launching their respective political campaigns Sunday to kick off the start of a brief election cycle.

Regina resident Ken McCaw would like to cast his vote for the Green Party due to environmental issues. However, he says the threat to Canada’s economy and sovereignty from south of the 49th parallel is a more immediate concern.

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“Unfortunately, we have to deal with the American politics bleeding into Canada,” McCaw said in downtown Regina on Sunday afternoon. “So, for me, that’s the top priority is to make sure our economy stays strong, make sure that we can survive and separate ourselves from trading with the U.S.”

McCaw said he hasn’t decided which contender will get his vote, though it won’t be the Conservatives. He’s waiting for local candidates from the Green Party, NDP and Liberals to announce their campaigns in the Regina ridings.

All 14 electoral districts in Saskatchewan are held by Conservative MPs.

“We needed an election federally, and now we have one,” said McCaw. “I’m a little anxious on what the outcome will be because a lot more, in my opinion, is weighted on this election than the last few.”

The first step toward an election was initially triggered when former prime minister Justin Trudeau resigned at the start of the year and prorogued parliament (meaning paused) until March 24. Carney was selected as Trudeau’s replacement through a Liberal leadership race on March 9 and he was sworn in as prime minister on March 14.

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Carney is not an elected member of parliament (MP) and would have potentially faced a non-confidence vote if parliament had resumed. The new prime minister also announced Sunday that he plans to run in the Ottawa riding of Nepean.

Carney has already captured the attention of Regina voter Sandi White, a longtime Liberal Party supporter at the federal level.

“I’m hoping that with Carney’s background that he will have the knowledge because, really, the whole economics of the world is a bit unsettling now,” said White. “So I’m hoping his experience will help ease Canadians.”

nyking@postmedia.com

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