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Canadian Expats in the UK Mobilize Against U.S. Policies in Upcoming Election
LONDON – Canadians living in the United Kingdom, known for their characteristic politeness, are setting aside niceties as they prepare their postal ballots for next week’s pivotal Canadian elections. Fueled by concerns over U.S. trade policies and perceived threats to Canadian sovereignty, these expats are steadfast to make their voices heard.
“If you mess with Canadians, we’ll hit back,” said Sarah Helppi, 44, a toronto native who now resides in London. Helppi recently mailed her ballot, emphasizing what she believes is the most critical Canadian vote in her lifetime.
Helppi’s decision to vote was driven by what she sees as a need to counter President Trump’s import tariffs and suggestions of annexing Canada, which he reportedly called the “51st state.” This marks the first time in her 12 years in the UK that she has voted in a Canadian election.
“I feel united with the Canadian peopel in trying to find their way out of this,” she said. “We want someone to make the hard decisions about how to re-engineer the economy away from the US, and to me that person is Carney.”
Mark Carney, the Liberal party prime minister formerly governor of both the bank of Canada and the Bank of England, is currently leading in the polls, despite only beginning his political career two months ago. While five parties were represented in parliament before the election was called, the race has largely narrowed to Carney and his Conservative rival, Pierre Poilievre.
Nathalie Cook, 29, a primary school teacher from Ottawa also living in London, echoed Helppi’s sentiments.“I think it’s quite clear that it’s going to be between Carney and Poilievre this time around,” Cook said. “It definitely feels like the most significant election I’ve ever voted in.”
Cook, who typically supports the left-leaning New Democratic Party (NDP), voted strategically for the Liberals this time, explaining that she “saw the threats of Poilievre as too great.”
“It was a difficult decision,” she admitted.“My values are more deeply aligned with NDP,but this election isn’t just about ideals. It’s about preventing real harm.”
She characterized this “harm” as the “attack dog” populism of Poilievre. Poilievre’s party initially held a 25-point lead over the Liberals in the polls until february, when President Trump’s criticisms of Canadian industry and sovereignty caused uncertainty and a shifting of voter preferences. this aligns with polling data that indicates heightened levels of concern among Canadian voters regarding U.S. influence on Canadian politics and the economy.
richard Beard, 30, an energy sector worker from Ottawa, where Carney is on the ballot, stated that even some Poilievre supporters are reconsidering their choices. “Ideologically, I’m more aligned with Poilievre – there’s no doubt about that,” Beard said. “But to me, it was less an election about ideology and more about who we want in the seat to respond to Trump and manage the coming years and the risks that will arise.”
A record 7.3 million early voters have already cast ballots in Monday’s election – an estimated 25% increase compared to the 5.8 million advanced ballots cast in 2021.
Stephen Bateman, 28, a consultant who previously advised Liberal party MP and former deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland before relocating to the UK three years ago, isn’t surprised by the high voter turnout. “The key point of this election is Canadian identity,” he said.“The one thing that I’ve found really captivating this time is the resurgence of a sort of polite nationalism.”
This “polite nationalism” appears to be having a tangible impact. Airline travel between Canada and the U.S. has decreased significantly, with one study suggesting a 70% drop in bookings through October 2025. “When people feel attacked, there’s this kind of rally-around-the-flag effect,” said Troy aharonian, an account director.Aharonian, like others interviewed, indicated he would not consider traveling to the U.S. under the current circumstances.
“There’s a feeling that Canada’s worth defending, and Canada is worth something, and we’re not just gonna roll
