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Canadians are holding parliamentary elections today to determine who will lead their government: the Liberal Party under Prime Minister Mark Carney, a former banker, or the Conservatives, led by Pierre Poilievre, a career politician on the party\u2019s right.<\/p>\n
One issue has consumed voters: President Trump. His tariff attack on Canada and his repeated calls for the annexation of the country as the 51st state have dominated the race.<\/p>\n
To learn about what\u2019s at stake, we reached out to Matina Stevis-Gridneff, our Canada bureau chief.<\/p>\n
What are the biggest issues in the elections?<\/strong><\/p>\n Canadians are thinking about the economy, and about Trump. The two are, to a great degree, intertwined: Canada\u2019s economy is in a relatively weak spot as it\u2019s getting hit by tariffs. Some voters want to punish the Liberal Party, which has been in charge for the past decade, and hold it accountable for leaving the country in a weakened spot.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Those voters are likely to cast a ballot for the Conservative Party. The Conservatives are promising change, smaller government, tax cuts and deregulation. But other voters \u2014 and polls suggest they may be the majority \u2014 are predominantly worried about how Canada stands up to the U.S. This relates to tariffs, but it extends beyond the purely economic, to the political and even existential spheres, given that Trump has threatened to annex Canada.<\/p>\n Voters motivated by that mind-set are likelier to pick the Liberal Party. Mark Carney is a seasoned international economic policymaker and private-sector executive, and his experience in economic turmoil has led many Canadians to believe he\u2019s the right person to trust<\/a> in this crisis.<\/p>\n What will you be watching for on Election Day, and what has stood out for you so far?<\/strong><\/p>\n I\u2019ll be looking to see if the Liberals win, as polls are predicting<\/a>, and if they can secure a majority government. For me that will indicate that Trump is a potent factor in the politics of America\u2019s allies, who are all reeling by the change of policy and attitude in the White House.<\/p>\n The sharp reversal of fortunes for the Liberal Party which, until early his year, seemed poised to face a crushing defeat, has been stunning to watch. And in that context, the rise of Carney from elite economist to prime minister in the blink of an eye, and with no previous political experience, has been really surprising.<\/p>\n Results:<\/strong> Most polls will close at 9:30 p.m. Eastern time today, and results will most likely come later in the evening. Here\u2019s what else to know<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Secretary of State Marco Rubio said yesterday that the Trump administration would decide this week whether to continue pursuing a negotiated settlement in Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine<\/a> or turn its attention elsewhere.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re close, but we\u2019re not close enough,\u201d he said in a television interview. It wasn\u2019t clear if this was a negotiating tactic or if Trump and his aides were really close to walking away.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n A glimmer of hope:<\/strong> On Saturday, Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine spoke privately for about 15 minutes in Rome<\/a>. Trump later questioned why Russia had continued attacking Ukraine while the U.S. was trying to broker an end to the war. Zelensky said that he and Trump talked about a \u201creliable and lasting peace that will prevent another war.\u201d<\/p>\n Related:<\/strong><\/p>\n Moscow claimed it had retaken the last village<\/a> held by Ukraine in the Kursk region of Russia. Ukraine denied that it had been pushed out.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n North Korea\u2019s leader, Kim Jong-un, has ordered a monument for its soldiers<\/a> who were killed fighting for Russia, state media reported, confirming for the first time the nation\u2019s military role in the war against Ukraine.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Evan Lee, better known as EvanTube, still had his baby teeth when he became an influencer and transformed his family\u2019s fortunes.<\/a> Now 19, he spoke to us about what that exposure meant and what it\u2019s like to grow up in the child influencer economy.<\/p>\n Lives lived:<\/strong> Virginia Giuffre, a victim of Jeffrey Epstein\u2019s sex-trafficking ring who was injured in an automobile crash last month, died at 41<\/a>.<\/p>\n At 82, Isabel Allende is one of the world\u2019s best-selling Spanish-language authors \u2014 beloved for her tales of women in tough spots who make it through. Her own story, of fleeing Chile\u2019s military coup at age 31, has similar themes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Allende\u2019s latest novel, \u201cMy Name Is Emilia del Valle,\u201d which comes out next month, takes place during the 1891 Chilean civil war. She spoke to The Times about leaving Chile, why she has never stopped longing for and thinking about her past, and how fear changes society. Read our interview<\/a>.<\/p>\nFate of Ukraine talks will be decided this week, Rubio said<\/h2>\n
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