This week, the federal election campaign took centre stage as Prime Minister Mark Carney has asked the Governor General to dissolve Parliament, triggering a federal election set for April 28, with a focus on strengthening Canada’s economy and countering U.S. tariffs.
Carney pledged to implement a middle-class tax cut, invest in Canada, secure the economy, maintain immigration caps, and reverse Trudeau’s carbon pricing, while Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre vowed to roll back Trudeau-era policies, shrink the public service, and stand firm against Trump’s tariffs. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh criticized both party leaders for prioritizing the wealthy, positioned the NDP as the best choice for the working class, and warned against concessions to Donald Trump’s economic pressures. Bloc Québécois Leader Blanchet Yves-François Blanchet prioritized Quebec’s interests, while Green Party Leader Elizabeth May called for high voter turnout.
Abacus Data’s latest poll showed the Conservatives leading the Liberals by 3% nationally, with 39% support compared to 36%. The NDP dropped to its lowest level under Jagmeet Singh, with 12% support, while the Liberals gained ground in Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada.
As the campaign was officially launched, the Clerk of the Privy Council announced the activation of the Critical Election Incident Public Protocol (CEIPP), which will guide interagency coordination and security as the campaign unfolds. This will emphasize a collaborative effort among agencies, social media platforms, and citizens to counter foreign interference and disinformation while maintaining confidence in the democratic process. Efforts include increased intelligence monitoring, public awareness campaigns, and security support for MPs, candidates, and voters.
The council office warned that disinformation threatens democracy by undermining trust in institutions, polarizing society, and enabling foreign interference in elections. Canadians are urged to critically assess sources, verify facts using reputable tools, and report suspicious content to authorities like the RCMP, CSIS, and the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security.
Elections Canada Chief Stéphane Perrault has engaged with social media platforms like X and TikTok to combat misinformation, launching “ElectoFacts” to debunk false claims. A public inquiry led by Commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue identified disinformation as the greatest threat to Canadian democracy, prompting officials to enhance monitoring and transparency efforts.
The fallout from U.S. President Donald Trump’s 25% auto tariffs affected campaign messaging across all major parties. Carney paused campaigning to convene the Canada-U.S. committee and unveiled a $2 billion strategic response fund for the sector and committed to developing an auto manufacturing network based solely in Canada. Poilievre told Trump to “knock it off” while highlighting his party’s focus on self-sufficiency and criticizing Carney’s past role in incentivizing Canadian investments in other countries. Singh, speaking to auto workers in Windsor, called for unity and proposed a four-point plan to protect the auto industry.
As campaigns continue to roll out, Life Sciences Ontario issued its own roadmap for healthcare reform this week, with the release of “Going Upstream: Toward an Ontario Chronic Disease Strategy, Starting with Diabetes.” which aims to transform the healthcare system designed for acute illnesses to better diagnose, treat, and improve the lives of residents with chronic diseases. The vision primarily targets diabetes which affects 1.7 million Ontarians and is projected to reach 2.3 million by 2034 while calling for the government to prioritize efficient health care for Ontarians with chronic illnesses amid economic uncertainty.
In a panel hosted by Delphic Research, LSO President and CEO Jason Field joined other leaders to discuss trade and tariff challenges affecting the life sciences sector and also to explore economic uncertainty, political shifts, and the need to rebuild public trust in science.
But despite all of these developments, comprehensive pharmacare remains elusive. A new analysis from The Conversation revealed ongoing hurdles in rolling out the Pharmacare Act. In the Yukon, the Legislative Assembly highlighted the gaps in the universal pharmacare plan, although officials expressed a supportive stance towards federal initiatives. Similar sentiments echoed in Nova Scotia as shown by legislative discussions, but the province has yet to sign the federal pharmacare plan.
The Nova Scotia NDP criticized the provincial government’s delay in signing a pharmacare agreement with the federal government, particularly as federal funding for contraceptives and diabetes medications is on the table. Health Minister Michelle Thompson stated that while the province supports improving access to contraceptives, any agreement with the federal government must be financially sustainable and align with existing programs.
This week’s events offered a preview of the weeks ahead: campaign promises clashing with policy developments and every party scrambling to define how it will protect Canadians not just from tariffs but from the cracks forming within healthcare affordability.
Be informed, book a free consultation today with Delphic Research!
