Canadian Election 2025: Division Escalates

The Canadian Election rhetoric is getting heated, with East-West divides emerging.

Rising Aggression in Canada's Political Discourse

As the Canadian election campaign enters its second week, the tone of political discourse has intensified significantly. Building on analysis by 996 Advisors from two weeks ago, which flagged an emerging trend of hostility, the use of aggressive language shows no signs of slowing.

The past two weeks, the term “traitor” in conjunction with an index of Canadian political leaders appeared in 46,130 online mentions in Canada —a 69% increase compared to the previous two week’s total.

Chart depicting a 69% increase in social posts of the term traitor in conjunction with Canadian politicians from 2 weeks pre-election campaign to the first two weeks of the campaign.

Key Targets: Carney and Poilievre

Mark Carney, the Liberal leader, bears the brunt of this hostility, accounting for 35% of “traitor” mentions—over 10,000 instances in the past week alone. Critics, particularly in Western Canada, question his legitimacy to negotiate with the United States on Canada’s behalf, a concern amplified by perceptions he is a “globalist” with tenuous Canadian ties. Yesterday’s report from the Security and Intelligence Threats to Elections (SITE) Task Force, which raised alarms about potential foreign interference, has further fueled these accusations.

Pierre Poilievre, meanwhile, faces similar attacks, though to a lesser degree, with 3,000 mentions (30% of Carney’s total). His critics point to perceived alignments with MAGA-style politics as evidence of divided loyalties, though tensions with Western Canada remain Carney’s more prominent vulnerability.

National Unity Under Threat

The escalation in divisive rhetoric coincides with growing strains on Canadian unity, a theme underscored by Preston Manning’s recent Op-Ed in The Globe and Mail. Since mid-February, 996 Advisors has tracked a rising separatist sentiment in Alberta, linked to discussions of becoming the “51st state.” This momentum has accelerated during the campaign, with online conversations about separatism surging across platforms. For example, Twitter mentions of separatism jumped from 12,310 in February to 37,600 in March, with a projected 42,800 in April—a 248% increase over two months. Similar trends appear on Reddit (up 242% projected for April) and in news outlets (up 224%), reflecting a broad-based polarization that transcends channels.

Charts comparing the growth in online conversations about separatism in Canada across six different channels.

These increases signal more than rhetorical noise; they suggest a grassroots momentum that could embolden formal separatist movements if left unchecked. Primary amplifiers include CBC, Grok, Western Standard News, and Rebel News, with platforms like Reddit showing particularly sharp rises in polarizing content. The data points to a deepening rift between Eastern and Western Canada, posing a tangible risk to national cohesion.

Data Insights and Implications for the Canadian Election

The rapid rise in aggressive and separatist rhetoric demands attention. While the volume of “traitor” mentions highlights immediate campaign tensions, the tripling of separatist discussions since February—spanning Bluesky, blogs, news, Twitter, Reddit, and YouTube—indicates a longer-term challenge. This trend, if sustained, could undermine trust in national institutions and fracture regional relationships, particularly as the April 28 election approaches.

A Path Towards Canadian Unity

We may think Trump is our biggest challenge, but his rhetoric has exposed the division in our nation. To address this, the next government must prioritize dialogue between Eastern and Western Canada, tackling the root causes of discontent—economic disparities, representation, and trust in leadership. Ignoring these warning signs risks amplifying polarization and weakening the fabric of Canadian unity. Proactive measures now can prevent a more entrenched crisis later.