Carney wins Canadian election in result likely to split opinion amongst Jewish voters
In victory speech, the former Bank of England chief says Donald Trump will 'never' break Canada
Former Bank of England governor Mark Carney has led Canada’s Liberal Party to election victory over the Conservatives in a contest that divided opinion amongst the country’s Jewish voters.
In a result that seemed unlikely only a few months ago, the Liberals won the federal election in a result clearly influenced by US president Donald Trump’s anti-Canadian rhetoric.
But going into the election, Canada’s Jewish population of around 400,000 appeared split over political allegiances, with some raising the problem of growing antisemitism in the country, and claims former Liberal prime minister Justin Trudeau was soft on the issue.
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre made a strategic push leading up to Monday’s election attempting to court Jewish voters, openly criticising the Liberal’s response to Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza.
But Poilievre saw his party’s hefty lead in the polls evaporate, and he ended up losing the Ontario seat he had held for 20 years.
Living close to Hampstead Synagogue when residing in this country, the Carney-led Liberal party was projected to win more of parliament’s 343 seats than the Conservatives.
But with results still to be declared it remained unclear whether the Liberals will win the 172 needed to secure an overall majority.
Carney – who has been critical of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government in Israel, and has repeatedly stressed his support for a Palestinian state – has also attempted to crack down on antisemitism in Canada.
He promised to create safe bubble zones around places of worship, and to criminalise the intimidation of people attending places of worship, schools or community centers.
“In Montreal, in Toronto, across this country, [there are people] who fear going to their synagogue, fear going to their community center, fear taking their children [and] leaving their children in school, and this has to stop,” said Carney during the federal leaders debate last week in Montreal. “It’s totally unacceptable.”
But some of Canada’s Jews have expressed concern about a Carney government, and alarmist calls for the community to leave the country raised in some chat groups.
The Liberal Party has attempted to assure the community that it would maintain economic, social, and cultural relations with Israel, and would support the Jewish state’s “right to defend itself and its civilians, in accordance with international law.”
While Conservative Party leader had said he would stop funding the Palestinian relief agency UNWRA, Carney has committed to continuing aid to the organisation.
Concerns about Carney also mounted after during an April 8 press briefing he was interrupted by a pro-Palestinian protester shouting, “There’s a genocide happening in Gaza.”
Carney responded, “I’m aware, and that’s why we have an arms embargo.”
It was reported that Jewish voters, particularly in voter-rich areas of Toronto and Montreal, have been disappointed in Liberals’ handling of the Israel-Gaza war
His victory is unlikely to be celebrated in Israel by the Netanyahu government.
But concern about the impact of Trump’s policies on the Canadian economy still appeared to be the main factor in influencing this week’s election result.
The US president had used tariffs and a pledge to turn Canada into America’s 51st state to openly in a call with Carney last month.
Trump placed a 25% tariffs on goods imported to the US from Canada, but exempted products covered by a North American trade deal known as USMCA.
While the Conservatives embraced populist policies employed by Trump, including condemning lax immigration controls, and growing budget deficits, Carney continued to maintain his belief in free market economics.
He turned the fortunes of his party around after Trudeau was deeply unpopular with voters ahead of his resignation.
Carney – a former Goldman Sachs executive, and governor of two central banks in both Canada and England – said in his victory speech:”As I’ve been warning for months, America wants our land, our resources, our water. President Trump is trying to break us so he can own us. That will never happen.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
