Could the People’s Party of Canada have a big impact on Election Day?

WINNIPEG (CityNews) ─ In a hotly contested election where every vote counts, the People’s Party of Canada could have a big impact on election night.

While the Maxime Bernier-led PPC will not win the election, one political expert says the party might play a big role in who does.

According to various polls, the party’s popularity is seemingly on the rise and it will be a factor in some of the tight races in Canada.

“We’re seeing polls over the past couple of weeks having the PPC ranging from six up to 10 or 11 per cent,” said Christopher Adams, a political analyst and professor of political science at the University of Manitoba. “And we don’t even know if the polls are adequately capturing those people who are supporting the PPC because people supporting that party have some similarities to the Trump voters in the United States who are moderately resistant to polls.

“It will be interesting to see what the People’s Party does on election night.”

RELATED:

• People’s Party Leader Maxime Bernier not invited to federal election debate
• As the PPC rises in the polls, what are parties proposing to combat the rise of hate in Canada?

Adams says the PPC will be taking votes away from the Conservatives, especially within ridings in southern Manitoba. He says the spread of misinformation and vaccine talk has become a wedge issue.

“PPC has been really effective on playing up this issue because they are rallying the anti-vaxxer population and we see that across Alberta, Saskatchewan and as well as Manitoba,” he said.

“We’ve seen Maxime Bernier come into Manitoba twice in the past five months. Once he was arrested. He has come into the province and he has had large rallies. We do see People’s Party signs across southern Manitoba.”

Adams says the riding of Provencher, which covers Manitoba’s southeast corner, including areas like Steinbach, is a riding where vaccines play a major role.

Conservative incumbent Ted Falk recently walked back on some comments he made about the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine. CityNews reached out to his campaign but did not hear back.

Liberal candidate for Provencher Trevor Kirczenow, who has been the target of vandalism in recent weeks, says he wants to capitalize on this issue.

“There’s a lot of intensity on both sides,” said Kirczenow. “I’ve met many people who are frustrated and upset with Conservative incumbent Ted Falk because he will not say if he is vaccinated or not, and people who are upset with him for having spread misinformation of the vaccines last week.”

Kirczenow says he has spoken to a lot of undecided voters in the area and notes the topic of COVID-19 is prevalent.

“Some of these folks are being thoughtful and they want clear, good information from each of the candidates about where they stand,” he said.

Adams says he will be following three highly contested ridings in Winnipeg on election night: Winnipeg South, Charleswood-St. James-Assiniboia-Headingley and Winnipeg North.