As the Canadian election season gets into full swing, both Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his biggest challenger, Andrew Sheer, find themselves running away from their pasts. 

Trudeau, who was first elected 2015, is struggling just one week into his re-election campaign. 

Just after launching his re-election campaign, photos were released that showed Justin Trudeau dressed in blackface. 

The photos depicted Trudeau at an “Arabian Nights” themed party. 

At the time, Trudeau was a 29-year-old teacher at West Point Grey Academy in Vancouver, British Colombia. His father was Prime Minister. 

Trudeau acknowledged the photos were him and has apologized numerous times. 

During his time as Prime Minister, Trudeau has been vocal about racial equality and has four Sikhs in his cabinet. 

With the latest polls showing a small dip in support, the Liberal Party is ready to remind voters of Trudeau’s strong record on race issues. 

It is too early to know if the photos will damage Trudeau in the upcoming election, but they could damage his reputation as an outspoken advocate for equality. 

Conservatives smell blood in the water, but Andrew Scheer has a history of his own. 

He is under fire for comments he made during a 2005 parliamentary debate, where he compared gay marriage to body parts on a dog. 

Scheer and the Conservatives have not apologized but say they have no interest in reversing current Canadian law on gay marriage. 

With the two major parties on defense, smaller parties see an opportunity to gain more seats in parliament and play a larger role in the next government. 

Jagmeet Singh, the leader of the New Democratic Party, called the photos of Trudeau “insulting,” and is pushing his party as a progressive alternative to Trudeau’s liberals. 

St. Lawrence University is home to 60 Canadian students each academic year. 

Julia Mulhern ‘21 says she has been following the election and looks forward to voting for the first time. 

“I’m looking more at liberals and conservatives, but it’s good to have other parties,” she said. 

Mulhern added that she wants to hear more from both major parties on economic and environmental issues before she casts her vote. 

I spoke with another St. Lawrence student and Canadian voter, who asked not to be named, about their thoughts upcoming election. 

They will not be voting for Justin Trudeau, and believe both the Liberal and Conservative parties will lose seats to smaller parties in the upcoming election. 

“It’s going to be a bloodbath,” they said. 

Just a few miles across the border, Canadians are scheduled to hold their federal elections on Oct., 21. 

In a parliamentary system, voters have the choice between parties rather than candidates. 

After the election, like-minded parties combine to form a coalition with the support of over 50 percent of the voters. 

The coalition then agrees to form a government and the parties choose a Prime Minister. 

The voters have a choice of Canada’s six political parties. The New Democratic Party, the Liberal Party, the Conservative Party, the Bloc Quebecois, the People’s Party of Canada and the Green Party. 

Similar to the United States, the choice boils down to supporting a Liberal or Conservative Party. 

Liberal Party leader Justin Trudeau and Conservative Party leader Andrew Sheer have grabbed most of the spotlight thus far. 

The election period begins on Oct. 15 and continues through election day. Canadians can also vote at advanced polling locations beginning Oct. 11.