Do people know who’s running in Canada’s federal election? Watch as we take politics to the street

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 26/08/2021 (1474 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Canada’s federal election is just weeks away, and we wanted to know: do you know who’s in the running?

We canvassed downtown Toronto to ask people if they knew who the leaders of the Liberal, New Democratic, Conservative and Green parties are.

Still have questions about the federal party leaders? Here’s a quick guide to help you make an informed decision on Sept. 20.

Who is the leader of the Liberal party? Justin Trudeau

Trudeau has been prime minister since his party won a majority of the House of Commons’ seats in the 2015 election. He has headed a minority government since the 2019 election, in which his Liberals failed to take a majority of seats, but won more than any other party. The Liberals have yet to release a campaign platform, but are promising to build new housing and increase federal transfer payments to the provinces for health care.

Read a profile of Trudeau here.

Who is the leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP)? Jagmeet Singh

Singh has been the NDP leader since 2017. Before Trudeau triggered the current campaign, Singh objected to calling a snap election in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, accusing Trudeau of placing his own interests ahead of the country’s. The NDP released its platform a few days before the start of the campaign, and is promising to expand health care, focus on affordable housing, and increase taxes for the wealthiest Canadians.

Read a profile of Singh here.

Who is the leader of the Conservative party? Erin O’Toole

O’Toole is a veteran Conservative MP who is fighting his first election campaign as party leader. He has criticized Trudeau’s decision to call a snap election as being based on the Liberal leader’s “self-interests.” The Conservatives released their party platform in mid-August, and are promising to address problems exposed and exacerbated by the pandemic, including in employment and housing.

Read a profile of O’Toole here.

Who is the leader of the Green party? Annamie Paul

Paul has been the leader of the Green party for almost a year, after long-standing leader Elizabeth May gave up her spot in November 2019. Since, the party has been mired with internal drama — including insiders saying Paul’s faced “significant resistance” from high-ranking officials within the party who have attempted to oust her. The Greens have not yet released their platform, but have spoken about policies on climate change and a guaranteed basic income.

Read Paul’s profile here.

How do you vote safely during a pandemic?

Elections Canada is expected to require masks for those who cast ballots in person. Poll workers will also be required to wear masks.

Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter

Election Extra

During Elections

Get campaign news, insight, analysis and commentary delivered to your inbox during civic, provincial and federal elections.

Sign up for Election Extra

Sign Up

I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

When you vote, you’ll be asked to maintain a physical distance of two metres from other people. If you have questions about health and safety protocols while voting, contact your local public health unit.

You can also vote by mail. Details on how to receive a mail-in ballot are available on the Elections Canada website. The deadline to apply for a mail-in ballot is Sept. 14. If you apply for a mail-in ballot, you cannot cast a ballot in person.

When is the federal election? Sept. 20

For more news and analysis, head to our Election 2021 page.

Libaan Osman is a Toronto-based digital producer for the Star. Reach him via email: losman@thestar.ca