2025 federal election
Since 2023, the Canadian federal election was a foregone conclusion – Pierre Poilievre and the Conservative Party of Canada were so far ahead of the unpopular Liberals that they would not only win the election – it looked like they would form a majority.
However, politics and public opinion can change quickly, as they did from January 2025 through to election day on April 28.
The result is another Liberal minority government but with a new Prime Minister – Mark Carney. Poilievre even lost his Ottawa-area seat.
The election was dominated by chaos and uncertainty with on-again-off-again tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump.
Along with the tariffs, Trump’s musings about Canada becoming the 51st U.S. state had a big impact on the election. Voters’ concerns about affordability and rising costs were overtaken by fear and a renewed patriotism.
As a result, many NDP voters chose the other two parties instead, reducing the party to seven seats and in search of a new leader after the resignation of Jagmeet Singh, who lost his seat to the Liberals.
The USW thanks Singh and the NDP for delivering real progress on workers’ rights, anti-scab legislation, pension protections, fairer trade, a greener and more inclusive economy, as well as the largest expansion of public health care in recent history via inroads on pharmacare.
The USW also congratulates Mark Carney on becoming Prime Minister. Workers across this country are looking for action to protect and create good union jobs, rebuild our industrial base and ensure fairness and security for working people.
Steelworkers got involved in the election as volunteers and as candidates. Shannon Devine, head of the Communications and Political Action Department at the USW Canadian National Office, ran for the NDP in the Toronto riding of Beaches–East York.
USW Local 8782 member Shannon Horner-Shepherd threw her hat into the ring for the NDP in the Ontario riding of Haldimand–Norfolk.
Although neither was successful this time, USW candidates helped bring worker issues to the forefront.
Steelworkers make a difference when we get involved and when we vote.
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