Jean Chrétien, 91, appears keen to wield his influence to fight for a Liberal victory, drumming up support for Carney

In the frenzy of a Canadian general election campaign, few things drain party activists more than the relentless travel, as they crisscross the country’s vast geography to drum up support in far-flung electoral districts.

But ahead of what has been described as the most consequential general election in a lifetime, the 91-year-old former prime minister Jean Chrétien has campaigned for the Liberals in 30 electoral districts across the country as the party seeks to match – or even eclipse – his 1993 landslide victory.

Family incarceration has been revived after Biden – and Jade, Jason and Gabriela are speaking out about their distressing treatment in Texas

When Jade and her family first arrived at the detention facility in Karnes county, Texas, she wasn’t really sure what to think.

“I guess I was confused and scared,” said the 13-year-old. Her parents were doing their best to reassure her that everything would be OK, but she knew they were in danger of being deported.

The Conservative Pierre Poilievre was poised to be the next PM until a lurch in US relations tilted polls to the Liberals

• Canada elections: the key players and what is at stake

Every election, the message from exasperated pundits and pedants is the same: Canadians don’t actually vote directly for their prime minister.

But on a rural intersection south of Ottawa, residents could be mistaken for thinking otherwise.