The final day of the federal election campaign took on a sombre tone as the leaders reacted to the deaths of nine people at a Filipino street festival in Vancouver Saturday night.
Vancouver police said a driver of a black SUV slammed into a crowd just before 8 p.m. PT at the Lapu Lapu Day festival, which was celebrating the contributions of the Filipino-Canadian community.
Nine people are dead and multiple others were injured.
Members of the public held the suspect, a 30-year-old Vancouver man who was known to police, until officers arrived on the scene. Vancouver police are still investigating but said they are “confident” it was not an act of terrorism.
The final day of an election campaign is often a hectic sprint of events as the leaders try to get their message to undecided voters.
Liberal Leader Mark Carney had been scheduled to spend part of Sunday in British Columbia but his team said he’s delayed his campaign in light of the horrific events. He’s expected to speak, as prime minister, around 10 a.m. ET from Hamilton.
“I offer my deepest condolences to the loved ones of those killed and injured, to the Filipino Canadian community, and to everyone in Vancouver,” he posted to social media early Sunday morning.
“We are all mourning with you,”
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has a rally in Oakville, Ont., planned for this morning. He’s expected to address the mass casualty before speaking to the crowd.
“My thoughts are with the Filipino community and all the victims targeted by this senseless attack,” he posted on social media.
“Thank you to the first responders who are at the scene as we wait to hear more.”
Singh left minutes before car rammed into crowd
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh had been at the festival and left just minutes before the incident happened.
The leader appeared visibly shaken when he spoke to reporters later, recounting the families he met.
“There were kids there, there were families there, they were so full of joy,” he said. “I don’t have the words to describe the pain I am feeling right now, the lives that are lost.”
Singh said the Filipino community should know it isn’t alone.
“We’re going to defend you, we’re going to protect you, we’re going to shelter you, we’re going to hold you,” he said. “This is so horrific.”
Lapu Lapu Day celebrates Datu Lapu-Lapu, an Indigenous chieftain who stood up to Spanish explorers who came to the Philippines in the 16th century.
Millions of Canadians are expected to cast their ballots Monday in the general election.
