A look at religion in Carney, Poilievre, Singh and May’s lives

Unlike in the U.S., religion is not a major factor in Canadian elections. And the faith of Canada’s party leaders does not typically make the news. 

But the beliefs of Canada’s political leaders can be of interest to voters, particularly those for whom religion is important. And it can inform the way political leaders approach their roles. 

With that in mind, here is a look at the role that religion plays in the lives of English Canada’s four main party leaders in the 2025 federal election.

Pierre Poilievre, Conservative Party of Canada

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre was raised Roman Catholic by his adoptive parents. But he has given no interviews in which he has shared his views on religion. 

What we know can be found from what others have written about him:

In an article in The Tyee, Andrew Lawton — who wrote a biography of Poilievre — is quoted as saying, “none of [Poilievre’s] friends and colleagues who spoke to me said that faith has, from their perspective, played a meaningful role in his adult life.” 

In an article in The Walrus, a former aide recalled that Poilievre regularly attended church for a time earlier in his career. But “he would later on turn up at churches only when he was campaigning or attending events. When Poilievre has discussed and debated faith and spirituality with friends, they say it’s in an abstract and philosophical manner.” 

In January, the National Catholic Register (NCR), a conservative American Catholic publication, published an article about Poilievre, who, at the time, seemed likely to become the next prime minister. According to the NCR, “Poilievre’s current religious practice is unclear.” It did note that he posted a message at Easter last year that “appeared to profess an active Christian faith.” 

The NCR went on to note that Poilievre opposes further expansion of Canada’s medical assistance in dying (MAID) laws and supports parental rights, but does support abortion rights and same-sex marriage. The latter earned him a red, “not supportable” rating from the Catholic Campaign Life organization, which rates politicians on their positions on issues such as abortion, same-sex marriage and LGBTQ rights. 

“Poilievre used to be known as a solid pro-life, pro-family MP. However, he abandoned these fundamental principles when in January 2020, he expressed …  his full throated disagreement with the natural definition of marriage as the union of one man and one woman,” Campaign Life’s review says. 

By “abandoning his support for natural marriage and the sanctity of life, he has placed himself outside the moral boundaries of the Church,” it added. 

Mark Carney, Liberal Leader

Like Poilievre, Liberal Leader Mark Carney was also raised Catholic. He has also not given any interviews specifically about his faith. 

However, the day he announced the April 28 election, a reporter, noting Carney had gone to church that morning, asked how Carney’s faith would influence his policies should he win the upcoming election.

“I don’t speak about these matters,” Carney said, referencing his “personal faith or spirituality.” But, he said, it influences “my sense of responsibility and service.”

According to Canada’s The Catholic Register, Carney’s “Catholic bona fides are rarely mentioned in Canada, but featured more prominently after his move to the U.K.” 

In 2015, The Tablet, a British Catholic publication, named Carney — then the Governor of the Bank of England — as the “most influential Catholic in Britain.” A 2021 Wall Street Journal article noted that Carney “goes to Catholic church at least once a week.” 

The Catholic Register went on to say that in Carney’s 2021 book Value(s): Building a Better World For All, he cited Pope Francis as a source of inspiration for his life, including for the pope’s 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’. In that thesis, Francis criticized irresponsible economic development and lamented environmental degradation and climate change. 

Brian Dijkema, president of the Christian think tank Cardus, recently wrote in The Hub that Carney has “made no secret of the fact that he’s a Catholic. What is different, though, is that he appears to be that strange type of Canadian Catholic who actually goes to church.” 

For Dijkema, that means he fits the description as a “religiously committed” Christian and is something to be celebrated. 

Carney is “extremely influenced” by Catholic social teaching on money and economics, Dijkema said, which says the economy must serve people, and not the other way around. 

“Much of his work … is an attempt to integrate a vision of the work, business, economics and the environment into one whole,” he said. 

Like Poilievre, Carney also received a negative ranking from Campaign Life for his support for a woman’s right to choose. 

Jagmeet Singh, NDP

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is easily identifiable as a Sikh due to his signature turban. But Singh has not spoken specifically about how his faith impacts his work as a politician — and the NDP’s website says nothing about Singh’s Sikhism.

In a 2019 interview with CBC News, Singh said that wearing a turban is a way to illustrate his belief that Sikhs believe in “fairness, uplifting people, protecting and defending human rights. Defending equality. 

“So when someone sees a Sikh, the turban identifies a person who’s going to stand up for rights, even if you disagree with them.”

The turban also symbolizes unity and compassion, Singh said, adding that his Sikh background informs his advocacy for social justice, equality and pluralism. 

In his memoir Love & Courage: My Story of Family, Resilience, and Overcoming the Unexpected, Singh shared how he joined others at his local gurdwara, or temple, in Windsor, Ont., to serve meals during langaras, a community meal. He said this helped inform his belief in “seva,” or selfless service to others.

Sikhism opposes abortion, unless a mother’s life is in immediate danger. But Singh has been public about his support for a women’s right to choose. 

Similarly, Sikhs oppose MAID, but Singh supports it. However, he is opposed to expanding it to people whose sole condition is a mental illness.

Elizabeth May, Green Party

Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, who once considered becoming an Anglican priest, has been the most open about her personal Christian faith.

In an interview published in Anglican Journal, May said the Green Party is secular, but faith is an important part of her life. 

“It’s the source of my strength in dealing with somewhat insurmountable odds — this profound belief that the impossible is possible,” she said. “Being a Christian in politics is part of who I am as a person, so I don’t hide it.”

Of the Anglican Church, May said she sees faith as a way to address issues such as climate change and poverty. If the church is not about making a difference in the world, “then we’ve abandoned Christ’s purpose for us on earth,” she said.

In a 2022 interview with Context, May said, “I don’t know how I could do this work if I wasn’t able to draw on the strength that I receive through the power of prayer . . . and opening up scripture.” 

And in a 2019 CBC interview, May identified Jesus as her hero. When asked why, she said, “because he led a revolution that was non-violent. He inspired people … I rely on his advice. A lot.”

May is co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Interfaith Caucus in the House of Commons. This caucus promotes dialogue between parliamentarians and representatives and members of Canada’s religious communities on matters of shared interest and concern. 

“It’s important to me that people of all faiths feel supported,” May said.

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