Canadian Federal Election 2025

Chris Herbert
Apr 27
5 min read

Updated: 14 hours ago

Canadian Federal Election: Are We Building a Nation for All Canadians - or Just for the Elite?

Introduction

As Canadians head into a pivotal Canadian Federal election, it's clear that the public has strong views about the direction the country should take. But elections are only the beginning.

This article isn't just about comparing promises made on the campaign trail. It's about setting a baseline for holding elected leaders and emerging private advocacy groups accountable well after the election is over.

Public polling shows that Canadians want bold action—bold action rooted in making life more affordable, growing the economy sustainably, and modernizing outdated systems.

With initiatives like Build Canada gaining momentum, it's critical to ask: Whose priorities are really shaping Canada's future? And who benefits?

Importantly, while Canadians express support for long-term economic growth, it's crucial to recognize that for entrepreneurs, especially startups, short-term growth is essential.

Entrepreneurs live in the realities of early cash flow, immediate scaling challenges, and surviving the "valley of death."

Long-term economic strategies cannot come at the cost of short-term vitality, particularly if cuts to social spending risk destabilizing vulnerable populations or emerging businesses.

Canadians' Priorities: A Baseline for Accountability

According to the "Public Support for Key National Initiatives" survey:

Priority	% of Canadians Rating as Important
Housing affordability	92%
Modernizing health care	92%
Long-term economic growth	91%
Government efficiency	90%
Job creation	91%

Other major findings:

63% support investments in long-term economic growth even if it temporarily reduces spending on social programs.

83% support eliminating interprovincial trade barriers.

82% support creating a national health data system.

75% support increasing military spending to modernize Canada's defense.

68% support a shift toward skills-based immigration.

These findings form the "People's Mandate"—a reference point for what Canadians expect not just now, but well into the future.

Party Promises: What They Committed To

Each major political party has made promises on these issues:

Liberals: Focus on housing, modernizing health care infrastructure, and selective economic growth projects.

Conservatives: Deregulation, heavy housing support, energy development, and rapid military modernization.

New Democrats: Expand public health care (pharmacare, dental care), prioritize affordable housing, but less focus on deregulation.

Bloc Québécois: Push for Quebec autonomy within national frameworks, especially around housing, health, and immigration.

Greens: Emphasize climate resilience and social programs, less aggressive on immediate growth-focused deregulation.

People's Party: Massive cuts to federal programs, radically reduced immigration, and minimal government intervention.

Full party comparison available here: Comparison of Major Parties' Platforms.

Some promises closely align with public priorities. Others sharply diverge, particularly around questions of deregulation, government spending, and social program support.

Build Canada's Role: Advocate, Ally, or Agenda-Setter?

Build Canada, launched by prominent tech and business leaders, frames itself as offering "bold policy ideas" to address Canada's challenges. Their platform emphasizes:

Prioritizing long-term economic growth

Eliminating regulatory and trade barriers

Fast-tracking energy projects

Modernizing Canada's military

Reducing government spending while boosting efficiency

Summary of their initiatives available here: Build Canada - Canadians Are Ready to Build.

Much of this mirrors the polling data—Canadians do want to build, grow, and modernize.

But Build Canada's interpretation leans heavily toward deregulation, private sector leadership, and a "move fast" mentality. While some of their proposals reflect real public appetite, others risk prioritizing the interests of Canada's tech and financial elite over broader societal needs.

Additionally, Build Canada's strong focus on long-term growth may inadvertently underplay the critical need for near-term economic support—particularly for startups, rural entrepreneurs, and emerging industries that require early momentum to survive and thrive.

Concerns About Influence and Power Concentration

Research into Build Canada's origins raises important concerns:

Leadership is dominated by wealthy tech entrepreneurs, many connected to companies like Shopify, Wealthsimple, and Cohere.

Criticisms include a lack of diversity (early memos authored solely by men) and alignment with U.S.-style government efficiency movements like Elon Musk's DOGE.

Skeptics warn that Build Canada's ideas, while popular in some aspects, could lead to greater corporate concentration of power and weakened public oversight.

If private advocacy groups exert significant influence without public accountability, there's a risk that democratic policymaking will tilt toward elite interests rather than reflecting the "People's Mandate."

Why Grey and Bruce Matter in Canada's Future

While national polls and party platforms set the tone for Canada's future, real nation-building starts at the local level.

Rural regions like Grey and Bruce counties are critical to turning broad promises into real outcomes.

Across Grey and Bruce, entrepreneurs, small business owners, and community leaders are already working to address the very issues Canadians have prioritized:

Housing affordability through creative development models

Healthcare innovation with community-based solutions

Economic growth driven by rural entrepreneurship, agribusiness, and clean tech

Skills-based development connecting trades, innovation, and youth retention

Initiatives like AREA 81 show how empowering local entrepreneurs leads to more resilient and prosperous communities—without waiting for top-down solutions.

True nation-building doesn't happen only in Ottawa or Toronto. It happens in the fields, workshops, town halls, and innovation hubs across Grey and Bruce—and in every rural region ready to lead Canada's next chapter.

A Framework for Post-Election Accountability

No matter who forms the next government, Canadians must:

Watch These 5 Indicators:

Housing affordability: Are real steps being taken to make homes more accessible?
Healthcare modernization: Are digital health records and system improvements
underway?
Long-term economic growth: Is there a focus on building GDP per capita, not just temporary stimulus?
Deregulation vs. Fair Oversight: Are regulatory reforms benefiting all Canadians or just big business?
Build Canada's Influence: Are advocacy groups like Build Canada shaping policy in ways that align with—or diverge from—what Canadians actually want?

True nation-building is democratic. It must be anchored in the needs and voices of Canadians, not just those with platforms, wealth, and influence.

This election is not the end. It's the beginning of a long-term project.

Conclusion and Call to Action

As Canadians chart their future, it’s clear there is widespread support for building a stronger, fairer, and more resilient country.

The public's priorities — affordable housing, modernized healthcare, real economic growth, and government accountability — have been made clear.

Yet the road ahead demands vigilance. Not only must we hold elected officials to their promises, but we must also scrutinize how private advocacy groups like Build Canada seek to shape our national direction — ensuring that influence, innovation, and power remain balanced and in service of all Canadians, not just a privileged few.

True progress requires sustained civic engagement, critical thinking, and a shared commitment to building a Canada that serves everyone.

This means holding leaders, local MPs, public and private institutions—including banks and crown corporations—and influencers accountable to the Canada that Canadians have clearly said they want to build.

And as fellow entrepreneurs, we must also hold ourselves accountable to these values and commitments.

Here's How You Can Take Action:

✅ Stay informed: Bookmark the People's Mandate — housing, healthcare, growth, fairness — and demand action.

✅ Watch the five indicators outlined above over the next year.

✅ Support local entrepreneurship and innovation in your communities, like Grey and Bruce.

✅ Question influence: Who benefits from new policies — the public, or a select few?

✅ Stay engaged with Mi6 as we continue tracking Canada's evolution post-election.

Subscribe to Mi6 updates, join the conversation, and let’s build a Canada that reflects the voices of all Canadians.