Following a 36-day federal election campaign, Canadians will head to the polls Sept. 20.
The announcement was made by Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau on Aug. 15.
“This is a really big moment,” he said, adding that Parliament “needs a mandate” from the voters on how to end the COVID-19 pandemic. Canada is in the middle of the fourth wave, with cases numbers increasing around the country.
Conversative MP for Battle River-Crowfoot Damien Kurek said that it was back in March that talk of an impending election first started to surface.
“We’ve been hearing the election talk and rhetoric coming from the government since about March,” he said. “We’ve been aware that this was coming.
“We had to be ready,” he said. “We’ve been prepared under the ‘hurry up and wait’ type of mentality. But everyday, in the meantime, we’ve been doing the job that Canadians sent us to parliament to do - holding the government to account.”
This will not be the first pandemic-era election in Canada; both New Brunswick and B.C. held elections last year.
“It’s the sort of thing where it’s the election that nobody really wants, but now Canadians do have an opportunity. They will get to share very clearly how they feel about what the future of our country should look like,” added Kurek. “And certainly, there are a lot of challenges that our nation is facing and that Alberta is facing, and that this region is facing.
“Canadians have the opportunity to make their voices heard, and certainly, we will be providing a clear alternative to what has been offered over the last number of years,” he said.
“Nobody should take the people that they represent for granted. And certainly the message I’m hearing is that the Liberals are trying to play politics with their future,” he said.
Opposition party leaders were quick to take to social media following the election call.
“I am ready to get our economy surging in the right direction for all Canadians. Vote Conservative,” Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole tweeted.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh tweeted an attack against Trudeau.
“You and your family should be the priority. Instead, Mr. Trudeau has called an election [sic] because he’s focused on keeping his own job and his rich insider friends happy,” Singh said.
The French-language debate will take place on Sept. 8 at 5 p.m. PT and the English-language debate will take place on Sept. 9. at 6 p.m. PT.
Meanwhile, in response to Sunday’s election announcement, the Grain Growers of Canada have created a video demonstrating the priorities for the grain sector as Canadians consider the future.
“This video highlights the support we need to unlock Canada’s limitless potential for agriculture,” explained GGC chair Andre Harpe, from his farm in Alberta’s Peace Country region. “All we need is a willing partner from our next federal government – whoever that may be.
“With mention of key areas, such as business risk management, research funding, and breaking down barriers to trade, the video…provides legislators and bureaucrats with practical and achievable solutions for agriculture as we move into a post-pandemic economic recovery.
“We are already at the forefront when it comes to creating wealth and economic growth, while leading our nation’s fight against climate change. Now it is time to take another step forward.”
Canada’s agriculture and agri-food industry is a key driver of Canada’s economy. It contributes over $142 billion (6.7 per cent) to Canada’s GDP annually and employs 2.3 million people.
- With files from the Canadian Press