La Converse spoke with voters and experts from Latin American communities to find out what concerns Spanish-speaking Latino voters in Canada.
Aurora Pacheco will be able to vote for the first time in next week's federal election. The 44-year-old Venezuelan became a Canadian citizen in 2024. In addition to voting for the Liberal Party, she has decided to volunteer at the party's office in LaSalle, Montreal. “It feels good to actively represent the Latin American community and help my friends understand the importance of voting, because today more than ever, we need it.”
When we speak to her on the phone, Aurora is enthusiastic and highly motivated to participate in the electoral process. For her, voting in Canada is a great opportunity and a privilege that she intends to make the most of. “Here, we can express ourselves without fear. We can learn about the different programs. The vote will be respected. The parties that don't win will be in opposition. That's vital for the health of a government.”
Beyond the polls, Aurora is concerned about the narrow margins separating the two main parties. “I have friends who are voting Conservative because they're fed up with Trudeau. There are also many Venezuelans who vote Conservative just because Poilievre's wife is Venezuelan, and I wonder how Poilievre's victory will benefit us Venezuelans.”
Like Aurora, 3.3% of the Canadian population—of Latin American origin—will be able to express—or not—their interest in national politics on April 28.
However, no studies have been conducted on the voting behavior of Hispanic Latinos in Canadian elections. According to Statistics Canada figures, we do know that naturalized Canadian citizens participate more in elections when they have been in the country for a long time. The voter turnout rate is 71% among citizens who have lived in the country for more than 10 years. In addition, according to Elections Canada, the group of citizens from Central America, South America, and the Caribbean had a turnout rate of 73.3% in the 2000 federal election.
“Latin American societies are highly politicized.”
Twenty-five years later, three major issues are driving voters of Hispanic American origin to participate in federal elections: the economy, potential changes to immigration policies, and the influence of the US government on national affairs.
Victor Armony, a professor in the Department of Sociology at UQAM, is originally from Argentina and has conducted research on immigrant populations, with a particular focus on Latin American communities in Canada. According to him, “the limited information we have suggests that Latinos tend to participate in elections. We can see this in part in the appointments. Today, we see people of Latin American origin at all levels of government: in municipalities, such as Montreal, in provincial politics in Quebec, and in the federal Parliament. Until Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's resignation, two of his ministers were born in Latin America: Pablo Rodríguez, Minister of Transport, who is of Argentine origin, and Soraya Martínez, Minister of Tourism, who is of Chilean origin.”
Although there are not many members of Parliament from Latin America, Victor Armony emphasizes an important point: “We must not forget that people of Latin American descent represent no more than 3% of the Canadian population. I would therefore say that their representation is quite significant.”
The expert points out that “Latin American societies are highly politicized, which is perhaps reflected in the behavior of their diaspora members, not so much in their activism, but in the fact that they remain well informed and vote.” One reason for this interest, according to Mr. Armony, is the political experience in their countries of origin, which are unstable and conflict-ridden, where problems such as inflation, poverty, corruption, insecurity, and authoritarianism are common.
What are the issues at stake for Hispanic Latinos?
The 2025 federal elections are generating a lot of interest, but also some anxiety, both among Hispanic Latinos who are eligible to vote and those who cannot yet exercise this right because they have not been naturalized.
According to Mr. Armony, this election should see a high turnout, “especially given the mobilization of many Canadians against the tariffs imposed by the US government: cancellation of trips to the United States, boycotts of US imports, buying local products, etc. Civic engagement is high, which should translate into strong voter turnout.”
However, he adds, “Latin Americans particularly appreciate the stability of Canadian society. Economic tranquility is perhaps the most important aspect, and this is precisely what the US government's policies are currently jeopardizing.”
Cecilia Escamilla is very familiar with the Latin American communities in Quebec, particularly those in Montreal. She is the director of the Centre d'aide aux familles latino-américaines (CAFLA). A community worker for over 20 years, she heads this non-profit organization and says she is concerned about the short-term future of Latin American communities.
“First, there's immigration. I'm concerned about changes at the federal level and their impact on asylum seekers, students, and undocumented and stateless families. These people have virtually no access to benefits and are exploited for their labor, which makes them doubly vulnerable,” she explains.
The second factor that Ms. Escamilla considers essential in this electoral process is the impact that political discourse has on fundamental values such as coexistence, acceptance, inclusion, tolerance, and respect, particularly toward disadvantaged people.
She adds that she has recently witnessed episodes of intolerance that lead her to believe that “these values have been greatly weakened in this society. This does not help integration at all. It also has significant consequences for the mental health of people from immigrant communities,” she says.
The community worker observes this phenomenon every day: “We are receiving more and more requests for mental health support services, and we are unable to respond to them. I am also very concerned about the cuts that could be made to the various organizations serving communities. I think the impact will be enormous, and I am worried about the future of social organizations. We all have more and more needs and less and less funding,” she emphasizes.
Voters have something to say
Jesús Ardila, a Venezuelan who has lived in Canada for 40 years, has always considered himself a centrist. But this time, the pediatrician and father of nine children born in Canada plans to vote Conservative. “I am determined to move to the right, and it is the disaster this country is going through that has led me to this decision.”
He is particularly concerned about the economy and the cost of housing in the country. “I think the quality of life of Canadians has been sacrificed,” he says.
He rejects what he calls “immigration libertinism”: “I believe in the value of immigration, but the government has let in millions of immigrants without considering the services and quality of life it can offer to those already living in the country. This affects health, education, basic services, and security.”
The doctor also complains about certain ideas that he considers “a consequence of liberalism and wokeness.” He refers in particular to gender diversity. “For me, there are only two sexes: male and female. In my practice, I have an obligation to provide care, respect, and treat all patients. However, with so many shortcomings in so many areas, this 'woke' vision only creates more social conflict.”
He had a cap made with the slogan “Make Canada Great Again.” Unsurprisingly, he also describes himself as a Trump supporter. “A lot of people don't like the guy because he's rude, but he's a negotiator,” he says. The imposition of 25% tariffs on Canada is not a problem for Jesús Ardila, because he believes it is “a ploy [by Donald Trump] to relieve pressure on his country. He is putting pressure on Canada to do business with him.” In his view, “all this will be resolved when we have a new prime minister.”
According to the doctor, Pierre Poilievre is therefore the ideal candidate to deal with Trump. ”They'll get along like two brothers, annoyed and happy. He'll work hard with Trump to make us great again and generate resources.”
He is not entirely convinced by the idea of making Canada the 51st state of its neighbor, but he still thinks it makes some sense. “I don't entirely agree, because this country has its history, its bilingualism; but economically, I think Canadian citizens would be better off joining the United States,” he believes.
Angel Castilla, a 25-year-old Hispanic-Venezuelan construction carpenter, will not be able to take part in this election because he only moved to Canada three years ago. However, he volunteers for the Conservative Party in Toronto. He was an activist for the right-wing Vox party in Spain before immigrating to Canada.
“Everything was fine here: it was an incredible society where you could work, save money, and get everything you wanted. You could buy a car, save for a house, and much more. But since I arrived, I've seen a sharp decline in economic and social conditions,” he says.
He believes that the liberal administration has not done a good job and has remained in power for too long. He thinks that young people like him, even if they don't vote, can contribute to the mobilization.
Volunteers are creating non-traditional political propaganda. With this in mind, and with the slogan “Bring it Home,” Mr. Castilla and his colleagues have created an English-language salsa song, which is being broadcast on the networks of the Latinos4Pierre group, of which he is a member.
The young pro-conservative claims that “liberal governance is based on censoring those who speak out against them.” He cites Bill C-18 [known as the Online News Act], “which means I can't even see the news in my own country because it's blocked,” he believes.
He also mentions Bill C-63 [the Online Harms Act], which, according to [the Liberals], aims to combat online hate crimes, but which he believes is “actually another form of censorship, because when hatred is directed at those who don't think like them, they do nothing,” he notes.
The young man believes that freedom, the economy, security, and society are the issues at stake in this election. “This administration has led to a lot of spending and massive restrictions on projects that could benefit Canada. International investors are turning away and going to the United States.”
When it comes to the neighboring country, Angel Castilla does not believe that Donald Trump's tariff measures will be a long-term problem. “Canada's problem is not Trump, but the current government. I don't want a politician who wants to go to economic war, I want a strong politician who is looking for a solution. I think Pierre can get a good deal,” he says.
As for the annexation of Canada by the United States, he does not think it is a serious possibility. “The Trump administration excels at marketing and trolling bad politicians. People are making a big deal out of nonsense instead of focusing on what really matters,” he adds.
He is also convinced that Pierre Poilievre's popularity is much greater than the polls suggest. “A lot of people are with Pierre. They're in the labor unions. They're lining up nonstop. You see it at rallies. I think his popularity is greater than we realize; it's just not visible,” he says.
Isaac Mendoza, a 29-year-old Cuban who has lived in Toronto since 2019, echoes this sentiment. He will vote Conservative in this election for the economy and the possibility of bringing about changes in interprovincial trade, “which Pierre Poilievre has promised to address.” Over the past 10 years, the Liberals have destroyed the economy and created almost total dependence on the United States, he says. “It's easier to trade [from Ontario] with New York than with Alberta,” he laments.
Isaac believes that the Liberal Party has been in power for too long and is dissatisfied with its management. He also considers that this party “is closer to communism than to democracy” and, having lived under a communist dictatorship, “I know firsthand all the disasters and suffering that this can cause.”
Other community concerns
Saint-Hubert Street in Montreal is home to a large number of Hispanics who come from other neighborhoods to shop. We spoke with some passersby, but not all of them wanted to share their political opinions. In fact, most of them are wary. They don't feel comfortable talking, saying whether or not they vote, and are even less inclined to say who they vote for. Those who do prefer not to be quoted by their last name or photographed.
This is the case for Felipe, 55, who is waiting with his dog for his wife to finish shopping. The couple, originally from Mexico, have been living in Montreal for three years and are applying for permanent residency, which prevents them from voting at this time. Felipe admits that he is not very familiar with the various political parties' platforms, but says he is very concerned about this election and how the results will affect his life in Canada.
“I'm afraid that a new government will take harsh measures against immigrants. Every time there's a change in government, policies change. I know that some people break the law, but that's not the case for everyone. Unfortunately, when these changes happen, the burden falls on those of us who are trying to do things right.”
Ana Villanueva, 49, originally from Mexico, admits she was afraid that the Liberal Party would have no chance of winning the election after the tumultuous days leading up to Justin Trudeau's departure. So she took action. “I did what I had never done before: I joined the party, made a donation, went to a rally, and voted in the primaries. I think the stakes in this election are high,” she says.
For Ana, it is crucial to include “the fact that in the United States, they are trying to destroy diversity” on the list of issues. In her view, “it is more important than ever for Canada, a traditionally inclusive and diverse country, to have someone who will continue to promote this value. I think Poilievre will be a carbon copy of Trump, and that's scary,” she adds.
She cites, in no particular order, the defense of human rights, environmental protection, and women's rights, values with which she believes the Liberal Party is more aligned.
Although it is difficult to determine whether the Hispanic Latino electorate in Canada identifies more with one party than another, it is clear that it is actively mobilizing and that the influence of the United States is a key issue in the minds of this community.
Trump and Poilievre: an imaginary crisis?
This morning, in our kitchen, my husband and I had the conversation we have every day, a sort of private podcast between two journalists drinking coffee and discussing the news as if it were any other domestic matter. It is highly unusual to interview your spouse, which is why I want to be very transparent about this. But it so happens that my husband, Rafael Osío Cabrices, is a journalist with more than 30 years of experience in Latin American political and cultural issues and the editor-in-chief of Caracas Chronicles, an English-language Venezuelan media outlet based in the United States.
In his view, Latinos are generally conservative by definition, largely due to the influence of Catholicism and evangelical Christianity. “The Canadian center and left, the Liberals and the NDP, talk about issues that, in Latin America, are used by the governments that many immigrants fled, and it's simple arithmetic that pushes them further to the right.” In fact, the vote of some Latin Americans is guided by the logic that “if I am against the left in my country of origin, then I am also against everything the left proposes in my host country.” Issues such as LGBTQ+ rights, the environment, abortion, and feminism, which are championed in Canada by the center and the left, are therefore repellent to these immigrants. “Latino voters in general are not only hostile to these issues because they don't understand them well, but also because they associate them—sometimes wrongly—with individuals such as Nicolás Maduro (Venezuela), Miguel Díaz Canel (Cuba), and Daniel Ortega (Nicaragua), among others, and this is a factor that neither the Democrats in the United States nor the liberals or the NDP here have been able to understand,” he explains.
Pierre Poilievre, for his part, has incorporated these issues into his discourse. ‘I think alarmism on social issues and criticism of liberal economic management are at the heart of why a good portion of the Hispanic electorate in Canada supports him,’ he believes.
He also mentions the doom-and-gloom rhetoric filled with fake news and conspiracy theories circulating on social media and WhatsApp. Many Latinos get their news from these platforms. “Poilievre has been capitalizing on this rhetoric since the pandemic and the truckers' protest in Ottawa, which has grown much stronger since Trump's victory,” he adds.
One question that particularly caught the attention of many American analysts during Trump's campaign was why an immigrant electorate could identify with a leader who is so unlike them. Rafael has an idea: “Latinos admire and identify with Trump partly because he's a millionaire, but mostly because he's a guy who does what he wants and offers simple, immediate solutions to big problems that are, in reality, imaginary.” He is referring specifically to ideas that have been fueled by fake news.
Rafael believes that non-existent threats have been created and exaggerated, fueling homophobia and racism among some immigrants. “No, their children are not going to be 'homosexualized' in schools, abortion is not going to be used as a method of contraception, and white Western society, which Latinos want to be part of, is not going to be replaced by Muslims, homosexuals, black people, etc.” Trump and Poilievre have sold themselves as the easy and simple solution to a great catastrophe that is supposed to happen, but in reality does not exist.”