What’s on Voters’ Minds as Canada Elects a New Prime Minister
Ask students: What are the main differences between the Liberal and Conservative parties of Canada and the Democrats and Republicans of the U.S.?
Monday is the end of voting in Canada to elect a new prime minister. The big issue in this campaign has been U.S.-Canadian relations, especially Trump’s tariffs. Since the beginning of the year, opinion polls have gone from showing a commanding Conservative Party lead to a narrower but consistent Liberal Party lead. John Yang speaks with David Frum, a writer for The Atlantic, for more.
View the transcript of this story. News alternative: Check out recent segments from the News Hour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.
Discussion Questions
- Who are the two frontrunners for Canada's Prime Minister election?
- Which party has governed Canada for the past decade?
- Why has there been such a big swing in Canadian election polls since the beginning of the year?
- What was Trudeau's strategy for overcoming the poor performance of the economy?
- What does the record early-voting turnout reflect about this election?
Focus Questions
- What are the main differences between the Liberal and Conservative parties of Canada and the Democrats and Republicans of the U.S.?
- Why do you think the political parties of the U.S. are so different from their respective counterparts in Canada?
- Media literacy: Where can you go to learn more about Canadian politics and the federal election?
Extension Activity
To learn more about Trump's effects on Canada's election, watch the video below. After watching the video, answer the following questions:
- What has Trump repeatedly called for that has had a large impact on the current state of affairs of Canadian politics?
- What is the biggest difference between the two candidates, Mark Carney and Pierre Poilievre in this election?
Republished with permission from PBS NewsHour Classroom.
PBS News Hour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories. The site combines the best of News Hour's reliable, trustworthy news program with lesson plans developed specifically for... See More
Advertisement
