At a time when the tension between the US and Canada is high, the election becomes a pivotal point in what happens going forward, and the policies enacted on both ends.

Both of the Canadian candidates for Prime Minister, Poilievre and Carney, are against the United States’ current policies. As a result of President Trump’s remarks on making Canada the 51st state, Canadians are understandably against what he stands for. Canadians have booed the US national anthem at hockey games.

Decades of previously stable relations between the US and Canada are all being threatened. Ever since January, our relations with Canada have been steadily going downhill.

Canadians are basing their vote in this election on who would be better equipped to fight back against US policies. The one thing that all parties can agree on is that Trump’s remarks have enraged them all, and they want no part in that going forward.

While Poilievre’s plan if he gets elected is in parts the same as Trump’s, although he has made efforts to distance himself away from Trump. Parts of his plan include cutting government funding and to remove environmental laws in order to further exploit the country’s resources.

The other candidate, Carney, aims to make Canada less reliant on US products overall. He wants to build new homes, factories, and energy sources to not rely on the US as much. He wants to stand up for Canadian values and to put their history first.

One thing we do know, no matter the results, is that the next Prime Minister will be entirely able to decide what our future relationship with Canada looks like.