Timing of federal election will likely depend on COVID-19 vaccinations, experts say

OTTAWA – COVID-19 vaccinations have only just started in Canada, but as the rollout ramps up, experts say it becomes more and more likely Canadians will see a pandemic election.

With a recent cabinet shuffle, high polling numbers for the Liberals, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau not ruling out a potential vote, election speculation is growing.

“We’re probably looking at something like a June election,” says Lori Williams, Mount Royal University political scientist.

She and others believe that call is going to be strongly tied to vaccines. If the rollout goes well and tens of millions of doses arrive in the second quarter as planned, then Williams sees a good possibility the prime minister will call a vote in late spring or early summer.

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“The more successful the dealing with COVID-19 is, the more likely we’re to see an earlier election,” she adds.

If immunization rollout doesn’t go well, then a vote could be delayed or the opposition may try to take down this minority government.

David Taras, a professor of journalism at Mount Royal University, says either way, vaccines will likely be the main topic of any election held in Canada this year.

“That’s the standard against which governments will be judged, ‘Did you save my life when I needed you there?'” he explains.

While June seems to be a likely time for a vote, many experts agree the federal government would wait until after the spring budget — which will have major spending and promises, like national child care — for any election.

Stephanie Plante, a political analyst with Carleton University, notes there have been several provincial pandemic elections, and all of them have been good to the incumbent.

“So the wheels of democracy do keep going, even during a pandemic. And I think Justin Trudeau’s hoping to capitalize on that,” she says.

Elections Canada has already been preparing for the possibility of a COVID election and if legislation passes, it could include more mail-in ballots and multi-day voting.

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