The newly appointed Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced a snap election scheduled for 28 April, citing the necessity of a strong mandate to address the economic threats posed by US President Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Although the previous election was not expected until 20 October, Mr. Carney aims to leverage his Liberal Party’s significant recovery in polling since January, a period marked by Mr. Trump’s threats to Canada and the resignation of former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
“We are confronting one of the most critical crises of our era due to President Trump’s unwarranted trade actions and threats to our sovereignty,” Mr. Carney stated.
“There is still so much more to accomplish to secure Canada, invest in Canada, build Canada, and unite Canada. That’s why I am seeking a strong positive mandate from my fellow Canadians.”
“I’ve just requested that the Governor General dissolve Parliament and initiate an election for April 28th, and she has complied,” Mr. Carney informed reporters after receiving approval from the Governor General, who represents Britain’s King Charles as Canada’s head of state.
Mr. Carney, a two-time central banker without prior political or election campaign experience, secured the Liberal leadership two weeks ago by convincing party members that he was the best candidate to confront Mr. Trump.
Now, he has five weeks to earn the support of Canadians.
Current polls indicate that the Liberals, who have been in power since 2015 and were trailing behind the official opposition Conservatives at the start of the year, are now marginally leading their competitors.
“We have transitioned from an election where voters desired change to one that centers more on leadership,” noted Darrell Bricker, CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs.
“The Conservatives’ capacity to criticize the Liberals has diminished significantly, as voters are focused on immediate issues and the near future rather than reflections on the past decade,” he explained via phone.
The Conservatives have attempted to portray Mr. Carney as an elitist intent on maintaining the high-spending policies of the Trudeau administration.
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre is an experienced politician who has participated in seven elections.
They have also questioned Mr. Carney’s transparency regarding how he transitioned his personal financial assets into a blind trust.
Last week, Mr. Carney reacted defensively when questioned about the trust, accusing the reporter of creating “conflict and ill will.”
This contentious response could give the Conservatives hope that Mr. Carney may falter during his first campaign.
A strong performance in the predominantly French-speaking province of Quebec will be crucial for any chance of victory.
Mr. Carney encountered difficulties at a press conference when requested to respond in French, initially misunderstanding the question and ultimately answering in English.
In contrast, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre speaks flawless French and is a seasoned politician with experience from seven elections.
Laura Stephenson, a politics professor at Western University in London, Canada, suggested that Mr. Carney’s lack of experience might not be a significant drawback given the Trump factor.
“There’s a different kind of comparison being drawn between the leaders regarding their capabilities,” she remarked.
“I believe we may observe a bit more leniency than usual towards politicians during this campaign,” she added.
An online Angus Reid poll of 4,009 participants released on Monday indicated that the Liberals have 42% public support, while the Conservatives stand at 37%.
According to Angus Reid, the margin of error is approximately 1.5%, 19 times out of 20.
A separate online Leger poll of 1,568 respondents conducted for the National Post on the same day showed Liberals at 42% and Conservatives at 39%.
Leger reported a margin of error of about 2.5%, 19 times out of 20.
