Why Canadian voters living in the Big Apple are becoming more interested in the federal election
In Manhattan bars, Canadians have a shrine: a giant elk head, license plates for each province, golden maple leaves on the floor and other souvenirs.
Canuck is the “Canadian Prime Minister’s Hockey and Sports Bar” in New York City, a familiar place for many Canadians living in the Big Apple, especially when they are looking for a game of hockey or baseball that is not broadcast on the American TV network.
Here, CBC News meets a group of New Yorkers who also happen to be voters in Canada’s upcoming federal elections – a competition dominated by the country’s relations with the United States, as Canada became the 51st state after the Trump administration imposed tariffs on Canadian goods and threats on Canadian governments.
They are just respondents from a campaign organized by the Cany Canada, a network, society and charity group. About how Canadian expats can register to vote and vote from abroad.
“Canadians living abroad have to vote by mail, they need to do it early – either send it directly to the Canadian election or send it to the consulate,” said Reena Bhatt, vice president of the group.
A complete vote must arrive at the election on April 28 at 6 p.m. ET on Election Day, although applications must be made by special votes by 6 p.m.
Reena Bhatt of the New York Association of Canada told foreigners how they register to vote and vote, and spoke about why its members felt more involved in this year’s federal election.
About 4 million Canadians live abroad
Christine Hutton, Sandra Pike and Sanjay Gopal didn’t talk about the people they were voting, but they enthusiastically shared why they voted in this election.
“I think because Canada is challenged at this particular time, it’s hard to sit down instead of being a part of the thing, show up and pick Canada,” Parker said.
Engineer Gopal worked in New York for 28 years, but his parents still live in Halifax. He said he was voting for his interests in mind.
“I just belong to the choices that can help them like on a particular ride.”
Hutton is a biopharmaceutical consultant who subscribes to Canadian newspapers and follows the daily headlines. She said no matter how long she lived in the United States, she was more concerned about Canada’s role in the world than ever before.
“I’m really looking at foreign policy, I’m looking at how Canada and the United States build relationships,” Hutton said. He was originally from Ontario, but lived in New York for 25 years. “There is China, relative to India, Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Gaza. I think these things are very important.”
An estimated 4 million Canadians live abroad – about 800,000 in the United States alone and thousands in New York City alone. According to the Canadian election, in the last federal election, only 27,000 Canadians living outside the country voted.
The Canadian election said that as of Saturday, 92,000 voting kits had been sent to Canadians living abroad and about 20,000 sets had been returned.
“Canada is a little bit of a moment”
Cany’s Bhatt said she noticed the election attracted interest and participation.
About Canada – The massive spotlight on U.S. relations means she was asked more about Canada even among her American peers.
“We’re sure to get more publicity from membership, asking if we know how they vote,” Bart said, adding that others want to know how to watch the leaders’ debate or election results.
Canadians living in New York City share why they voted in the April 28 federal election, despite being decades away from home.
Canadians living outside the country are not often part of Canada’s larger national dialogue. Just ask John Stackhouse, who wrote a book about it in 2020 Planet Canada: How our expats shape the future.
In his book, he writes that we may be the only major (or small) countries, thus strategically thinking about their diaspora.
“I think we need to be more strategic in keeping in touch with this crowd and being smart to help them help Canada around the world,” he said in an interview with CBC News.
Stackhouse said the Canadian immigration community is an untapped resource and it could be particularly useful as Canada has opened a new avenue to respond to the threat from U.S. President Donald Trump.
“Having a Canadian dialogue, not only within Canada, but also with Canadians around the world, which can be very powerful for the country,” he said. “They want to help the country. They want to get engaged.”
Of course, that’s what publishing professional Parker feels like.
“Canada is a little bit of a moment,” she said. “The people we live abroad want to be part of that moment, expand it and make it bigger.”
She had mailed her votes, and she received this message to her fellow Canadians: “We are with you, side by side,” she said. “We care about the same issue and we want to be your ambassadors around the world.”
