Carney triggers Canada election seeking mandate amid Trump threat
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The news: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Sunday called a snap federal election for 28 April, seeking a strong mandate as the country faces a trade war and sovereignty threats from US President Donald Trump.
What they said: Carney said Canada is facing “the most significant crisis of our lifetimes” due to Trump’s “unjustified trade actions and his threats to our sovereignty.”
"Our response must be to build a strong economy and a more secure Canada. President Trump claims that Canada isn't a real country. He wants to break us so America can own us. We will not let that happen," he said.
The context: The election comes as Canada’s relationship with the United States, its largest trading partner and a NATO ally, is rupturing.
Trump has imposed and threatened tariffs that could plunge Canada’s economy into recession, vowed to use “economic force” to annex the country, and repeatedly questioned its sovereignty, claiming Canada is not a real country.
His actions have upended Canadian politics and provoked a surge in nationalism, erasing the Conservatives’ long-standing lead and reviving the Liberals’ prospects.
Carney’s request to dissolve Parliament was approved by Governor General Mary Simon, just nine days after Carney was sworn in. The former central banker and political rookie replaced Justin Trudeau, who resigned in January.
Polls now show the Liberals slightly ahead of the Conservatives, after a sharp rebound from earlier lows.
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has portrayed Carney as an elitist and criticised his financial disclosures. Both leaders support retaliatory tariffs.
Trump has broken with the tradition of US presidents congratulating new Canadian prime ministers and has issued contradictory messages about the election. In January, he said it would be “very good” if Poilievre won because their views are “more aligned,” but in an interview on Fox News last week called Poilievre “stupidly no friend of mine.” “I think it’s easier to deal, actually, with a liberal,' Trump said, 'and maybe they’re going to win, but I don’t really care.”
The sources: Bloomberg , The Washington Post , Reuters
