Neil Young Becomes Second Celebrity Expat to Back Carney in 2025 Election
Canadian-born rock legend Neil Young has thrown his support behind Mark Carney in a public letter titled “I’m With You, Mr. Carney,” published Monday on his official website. It marks the second time this election season that a dual citizen expat has endorsed the Liberal leader.
“I want to tell you how much I appreciate and support what you are trying to do for our great country, Canada,” Young wrote. He praised Carney’s efforts and voiced frustration over U.S. actions that he believes threaten Canada. “I believe you are the person our country needs to lead us through this crazy situation and bring us out the other side as a stronger, smarter, more resilient Canada.”
While the letter didn’t directly mention the 2025 federal election or whether Young plans to vote, he made his stance clear, ending with: “I’m with you all the way.”
Young’s endorsement follows a light-hearted video campaign earlier in the race featuring Mark Carney and fellow Canadian expat Mike Myers. In the skit, shot on a mock hockey rink set, Carney quizzes Myers on Canadian trivia, including questions about beloved CBC puppets from Mr. Dressup. Carney wraps up the segment by affirming, “You really are Canadian.”
Both Young and Myers primarily reside in the United States, hold U.S. citizenship, and have spoken proudly about becoming Americans. Myers has lived full-time in the U.S. since the 1980s, while Young left in the 1960s. Young officially became a U.S. citizen in 2020, a move he celebrated with a song declaring himself a “Cana-erican.” His wife, actress Daryl Hannah, recently revealed that his naturalization process was riddled with delays under the Trump administration.
Despite their American ties, Young still owns a cottage near Omemee, Ontario—a place he immortalized in his 1970 hit Helpless. During the COVID-19 lockdowns, he spent six months there with Hannah. Still, he splits his time mostly between Colorado and California and was recently seen in Thousand Oaks, California, holding a “Hands off Canada” sign at an anti-Trump rally.
Given Canadian tax laws, it’s unlikely either Young or Myers contributes significantly to Canadian income taxes, as Canadian citizens living abroad are typically only taxed on Canadian-sourced income. In contrast, U.S. citizens must file tax returns annually regardless of where they live.
Celebrity endorsements are rare in Canadian politics—largely because many Canadian entertainers live abroad. Jim Carrey, for instance, has long been vocal in U.S. political circles but has stayed silent on Canadian elections since relocating in 1983. Even in 2019, Ryan Reynolds stopped short of endorsing a party, instead urging Canadians to vote for climate-conscious leadership.
Tory vs. Tory: Nomination Drama in Abbotsford–South Langley
The Conservative race in Abbotsford–South Langley has taken an unusual turn. Longtime B.C. finance minister Mike de Jong, the local favorite, was sidelined by party headquarters in favor of a 25-year-old newcomer. Now de Jong is running as an independent—with backing from none other than Ed Fast, the Conservative MP who has represented the riding for years.
This move shines a spotlight on a recurring issue in Canadian politics: centralized party control over nominations. While some candidates secure their spots through open contests, others are handpicked by party leaders. This often leads to internal tension and raises questions about democratic transparency in candidate selection.
Debate Drama: Greens Left Out
The French-language leaders’ debate went ahead without the Green Party. Though initially scheduled to participate, the Greens were disqualified after failing to meet key benchmarks: polling at least four percent nationally and running candidates in a minimum of 308 ridings. As of the debate, they had hit neither mark, leading to their exclusion by the Leaders’ Debate Commission.
