These are the four issues that could decide the federal election. Here’s what you need to know
Canada is holding its 44th federal election - and there is a lot to talk about.
The fourth wave of a global pandemic that crushed the national economy is rising amongst the unvaccinated. Leading scientists have declared to the world that urgent action on climate change can now only determine how much worse it gets. Soaring housing costs in the country's largest province have thrown affordability issues into sharp relief. And Canada has once again been called upon to reckon with the horrors of its colonial reality - a reality that includes untold numbers of Indigenous children buried in unmarked graves.
The Star believes all of this is important enough to define the campaign that will end with election day on Sept. 20. And so our reporters have written primers for the issues that we think will play a major part in this election: climate change, affordability, the pandemic recovery, and racial justice and reconciliation.
On climate change, Alex Ballingall reports how the debate has changed from a fight over the carbon tax - creating room, perhaps, to focus on Canada's growing emissions from fossil fuel extraction.
On affordability, Stephanie Levitz reports how the high cost and scarcity of housing and child care has come into stark focus through the pandemic, and how each party is going to offer something to address these issues.
On the pandemic recovery, Alex Boutilier reports how different parties are offering competing visions of how to deal with the aftermath of COVID-19.
On racial justice and reconciliation, Jacques Gallant reports how the discovery of unmarked graves at a residential school in Kamloops could spark a focus on anti-racism, inclusion and reconciliation through the campaign.