Carney will not attend Pope Francis’s funeral, Governor General will represent Canada
Liberal Leader Mark Carney says he will not be attending the funeral of Pope Francis in his capacity as prime minister, which is taking place Saturday in Vatican City ahead of election day. Carney said Gov. Gen. Mary Simon will attend on behalf of Canada, as well as a senior government delegation.
The Latest
With just five days left in the campaign, all of the major federal leaders have now released their costed platforms.Liberal Leader Mark Carney is in Victoria, where he appealed to British Columbians with a broad overview of his plan to fight Trump’s trade war.He confirmed that he won’t attend the Pope’s funeral this Saturday due to the election.Earlier, we heard from NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh as he campaigned in Edmonton on national rent control and a crackdown on corporate landlords.Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, who released his platform yesterday, focused today on his plan to remove “tent cities,” or homeless encampments.Updates
April 23
23 hours ago
Until tomorrow
Jenna Benchetrit
We’re closing down this live page for the day. If you’re just catching up, here’s what you need to know:
Carney was in Victoria, B.C., where he repeated the broad strokes of a Liberal plan to fight Trump’s tariffs. He confirmed that he won’t attend Pope Francis’s funeral on Saturday.
Speaking from Edmonton, Singh said that the NDP would fight for national rent control, and end renovictions by cracking down on corporate landlords.
Poilievre held an event in Hamilton, Ont., where he said he’ll give police and judges more power to end “tent cities,” or homeless encampments.
If you’re looking for other election stories, my colleagues Aaron Wherry and Catherine Cullen have a story about the Conservative Party updating its platform to include an ‘anti-woke’ promise that was previously omitted.
Meanwhile, Vote Compass data is showing that voter priorities are shifting with just a few days left in the campaign. Affordability is now the top issue, whereas the U.S. trade conflict had been weighing heavily on Canadians’ minds before the leaders’ debates.
See you tomorrow!
23 hours ago
Poilievre receives another union endorsement
Catharine Tunney
During a stop in Halifax, Poilievre picked another union endorsement, this time from ILA Local 269, representing Halifax longshoremen.
It comes as the Conservative leader has spent the leadup to the election courting blue-collar voters. Since taking over as leader he’s also moved his party to embrace pro-worker policies (traditionally NDP territory) and frequently repeated his “more boots, less suits” line.
He’s promised to reinstate apprenticeship grants, harmonize health and safety regulations across provinces and allow tradesworkers to write off the full cost of their food and transportation.
24 hours ago
Elections Canada is looking for poll workers
Verity Stevenson
After those record advance poll numbers, Elections Canada says it’s still looking for more workers to staff polling stations on election day Monday.
It’s hiring in 20 electoral districts across the country. If you want to know more, you can find that info here.
April 23 · 3:43 PM EDT
Carney says Poilievre has ‘American-style’ approach to homelessness
Catharine Tunney
Poilievre speaks with media in the foyer of the House of Commons on March 10, 2025 in Ottawa. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)Carney was asked about Poilievre’s announcement this morning regarding tent cities. The Conservatives’ plan would give police more power to dismantle encampments.
Carney said the Conservative platform doesn’t get to the root causes of homelessness and addiction, calling it an “American-style” approach to the issue.
“Lots of pictures of Pierre Poilievre, nothing about affordable housing,” said Carney, of the platform document
“Mental health, I don’t think it appears in the Conservative platform … I couldn’t find it.”
(A search for the words “mental health” showed the phrase isn’t included in the document. There is a section dedicated to addiction support.)
April 23 · 3:41 PM EDT
No mention of the NDP from Carney — until now
Verity Stevenson
Federal leaders Mark Carney and Jagmeet Singh are shown in a composite photo. (Sean Kilpatrick, Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)A journalist noted the fact that Carney has barely acknowledged the NDP in his campaign so far, but that a lot of B.C. voters support policies Singh has defended in Parliament.
Carney then listed what he believes could be at risk of being cut if Poilievre is elected, including $10-a-day child care, dental care, pharmacare, environmental strategies and the CBC.
“To use an NDP term if I may — there, I said ‘NDP’ for the first time in the campaign — progressive policies, I think of them more as policies and institutions that are part of this country because we care about each other,” Carney said.
“All of those, the Conservative leader, Pierre Poilievre, does not support.”
Still, before listing all of those, Carney mentioned a name that he does bring up a lot: “The biggest thing in this election is who is going to stand up to Donald Trump.”
April 23 · 3:29 PM EDT
‘What’s necessary is to have a clear mandate’
Jenna Benchetrit
Carney pressed if he’s seeking a majority government
With five days until election day, Liberal Leader Mark Carney was asked during a stop in Victoria if he’s seeking a majority government. Carney said he is ‘asking for a series of single votes from Canadians’ for the honour to build up the country.
There were many questions from reporters today about whether Carney is asking for a majority government — and, should Canadians elect a minority government, whether it will be strong enough to fight against Trump’s tariffs.
Carney wouldn’t say whether he is asking Canadians for a majority. But he said that a clear mandate will put Canada in a better position to negotiate with Trump.
“I’m asking for a series of single votes from Canadians for a Liberal party that is determined to build the country, if we are given that honour,” Carney said.
The Liberal leader also didn’t say whether, if elected, he’d go to Washington to speak with Trump or what the logistics of a meeting with the U.S. president would entail. The two had previously agreed that the next prime minister would sit down with Trump after the federal election.
“What’s necessary is to have a clear mandate, a strong mandate, a strong government,” Carney said in French. “You have to win the confidence of Canadians.”
April 23 · 3:26 PM EDT
Carney says B.C. could decide who is PM
Verity Stevenson
Canada Votes: What issues matter the most to young voters in B.C.?
For many young people, April 28 will be the first time they cast their vote in a federal election. What do they care about most, and which party do they have the most confidence in when it comes to leading this country? We hear from three young voters about what’s on their minds.
Hey, I’m Verity, one of your afternoon live page writers. Carney says British Columbians could decide who is prime minister on Monday. He said he’s asking them for their votes “to stand up to Donald Trump and to build a united Canada.”
The Liberals passed the Conservatives in the polls early on in the campaign, but the race in the province remains tight, according to the CBC Poll Tracker. Both parties will also be fighting with the NDP and Green Party for seats in the province.
Carney said B.C. industries are key to making Canada an “energy superpower” by growing its forestry sector and using it to build homes.
He said he would also transform the province’s mining sector to mine critical minerals for solar panels and EVs to “reduce our reliance on the United States while building our ties with reliable trade partners.”
Carney noted he wants to increase trade with Asian economies “that want everything Canada has to offer.”
April 23 · 3:24 PM EDT
Carney says Canadians are not stupid
Catharine Tunney
A composite image of Carney and Poilievre at respective events last month. (The Canadian Press)With the final push to election day underway, Carney dedicated a chunk of his remarks today to trying to draw a sharp contrast between himself and his main rival.
“Canadians are not, as Pierre Poilievre said, stupid,” said Carney, referencing the Conservative leader’s viral interview with Canadian psychologist and influencer Jordan Peterson.
Poilievre was criticizing how cheaply Canada sells its resources like oil and gas to the U.S.
“It’s not the Americans’ fault. It’s our fault. We’re stupid,” Poilievre said.
Carney is also pitching that this is the time “for experience, not experiments.”
“You don’t meet the moment with tired ideology when it demands bold action,” he said. “And above all, you don’t divide when people want to come together.”
April 23 · 3:15 PM EDT
Carney says he won’t attend Pope’s funeral
Jenna Benchetrit
Pope Francis aboard the papal plane after visiting Canada in July 2022. (Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters)Carney confirmed that he won’t attend the funeral for Pope Francis in his capacity as prime minister. He said Gov. Gen. Mary Simon will attend on behalf of Canada, as well as a senior government delegation.
“I’m not going to be attending the funeral, given the federal election and, I think, the importance of the nature of this election. It’s a crucial election,” Carney said.
April 23 · 2:48 PM EDT
Carney urges voters to choose ‘serious leadership’
Catharine Tunney
Carney is in Victoria as his party remains on the offensive during these final days. Once again, the Liberals are on Vancouver Island targeting ridings that have traditionally been NDP strongholds.
“Here in B.C., and across Canada, I am asking you to vote with me for positive reasons, regardless of which party you’ve voted for and supported in the past,” said Carney.
“This is a time for serious leadership — of a united country. We need to come together so we can fight President Trump together.”
