Canadians vote as Trudeau’s bid for decisive win hangs in the balance By Reuters

By Steve Scherer and David Ljunggren

MONTREAL (Reuters) -Canadians went to the polls on Monday as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau appeared more likely to lose his bid for a parliamentary majority after a troublesome marketing campaign which will have dashed his Liberal Social gathering’s hopes for a convincing win.

Trudeau heads a minority authorities that depends on the help of different events to move laws. With opinion polls final month exhibiting him far forward, he triggered the vote two years sooner than mandatory, saying voters wanted to weigh in on his left-of-center authorities’s dealing with of the COVID-19 pandemic.

However as the general public’s unhappiness concerning the early name grew, the 49-year-old prime minister noticed his lead evaporate. Liberal strategists now concede it will likely be onerous for the occasion to win a majority of the Home of Commons’ 338 seats.

Trudeau backs vaccine mandates, whereas Conservative chief Erin O’Toole, 48, opposes them and prefers a mix of voluntary vaccinations and fast testing to cease the virus’ unfold.

“We want clear, robust management that’s going to proceed to unequivocally push vaccines, and that is what we’ll do. Mr. O’Toole, he cannot, and he will not,” Trudeau instructed supporters in Niagara Falls, Ontario, on Sunday throughout a frantic final day that noticed him journey 2,800 miles (4,500 km) throughout Canada.

If Trudeau falls in need of a majority, it might symbolize a defeat that’s sure to lift questions on his political future.

The Canadian greenback fell on Monday to a one-month low towards its U.S. counterpart and the Toronto inventory market posted its greatest decline since January as Canadians went to vote and worries about China roiled world markets. [CAD/]

Trudeau, a charismatic progressive and son of former Liberal Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, swept to energy in 2015. However the Liberals dropped to a minority in 2019 after Trudeau was broken partially by disclosures that he had worn blackface years in the past.

A brand new {photograph} of Trudeau carrying darkish make-up on the identical 2001 occasion emerged on Sunday. A Liberal marketing campaign official stated the most recent picture was a determined try to smear Trudeau on the eve of the vote.

ELUSIVE MAJORITY

Polls present the Liberals tied in common help with the Conservatives, which theoretically provides Trudeau’s occasion a bonus, since Liberal power tends to coalesce in city facilities which might be dwelling to the lion’s share of seats.

“There is no world during which this isn’t tight,” a senior Liberal strategist stated. “Is a majority attainable? Sure. Is it the likeliest situation? No.”

Liberals concede voters may be turned off by having to go to the polls as a brand new COVID-19 wave hits the nation. Low turnout tends to favor the Conservatives.

To complicate issues, each events face vote splits. The Liberals compete with the left-leaning New Democrats, whereas the right-wing Folks’s Social gathering of Canada (PPC), which opposes necessary vaccines, might damage the Conservatives.

“Justin Trudeau needs you to remain dwelling tomorrow. Justin Trudeau needs you to vote PPC,” O’Toole instructed supporters on Sunday.

Polls in Canada’s most-populous areas will shut between 9:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. EDT (0130-0200 GMT on Tuesday). An early indication of Liberal fortunes will come after 7:30 p.m. EDT (2330 GMT), when votes within the 4 Atlantic provinces are counted. The Liberals maintain 27 of the area’s 32 seats.

After voting in downtown Montreal, Jonathan Goldbloom and his 95-year-old mom, Sheila Goldbloom, stated they supported Trudeau’s dealing with of the pandemic.

“He confirmed nice management on the file and he’s the one who stated that everybody must get vaccinated. I don’t really feel that the Tories have been constant in that message,” Jonathan Goldbloom stated, utilizing one other time period for Conservatives.

Wayne Boone, who was strolling over to vote in Ottawa, stated he helps O’Toole’s Conservatives for his or her fiscal restraint.

“And I am not very pleased with Pierre Jr. – as I name him – Justin Trudeau, as a result of he tends to simply spend cash that we are going to by no means have,” Boone stated.

Samantha Mills, a Vancouver librarian, stated she deliberate to vote for the New Democrats, saying occasion chief Jagmeet Singh proved in the course of the debates he might maintain Trudeau to account.

“It actually felt prefer it was him (Singh) taking Trudeau to activity greater than everyone,” she stated outdoors a polling station.

The New Democrats might end third and maintain appreciable affect in a minority authorities.

A delay in counting mail-in votes might obscure ends in tight races.

Elections Canada will solely start relying on Tuesday the 800,000 largely mail-in particular ballots forged domestically, after they’ve verified them towards in-person votes. In 2019, all particular ballots have been counted on or earlier than election evening.