New Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is anticipated to announce a snap election for 28 April, igniting a fierce campaign focused on responses to US President Donald Trump’s trade war and calls for Canada to become the 51st state.
Mr. Carney, who succeeded Justin Trudeau only last week, is expected to declare the election date on Sunday, according to two anonymous government sources who spoke to AFP.
The swift election call reflects Mr. Carney’s intention to leverage a recent surge in polling for his Liberal Party, largely prompted by US tariffs and Mr. Trump’s unprecedented assertions that Canada should not remain an independent nation.
Mark Carney visited UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer following his ascent to the Canadian premiership.
At the beginning of the year, right before Mr. Trump assumed office, it seemed the Liberals were facing a potential electoral defeat, with the opposition Conservatives poised to take control of the government.
Nevertheless, Mr. Carney, who overwhelmingly secured the party leadership vote on March 9, has managed to unite the Liberals as they respond to Mr. Trump and concerns over a recession driven by the trade war.
Political Novice
This will mark Mr. Carney’s first campaign; at 60 years old, he is a former central banker with no prior experience in elected office.
He contends that his background leading the Bank of Canada during the 2008-2009 financial crisis and serving as head of the Bank of England during Brexit makes him particularly well-suited to navigate economic challenges.
Mr. Carney visited French President Emmanuel Macron amid ongoing tensions with the US.
Mr. Carney has branded Mr. Trump’s America as a country Canada can “no longer trust” and has cautioned Canadians that relations with the United States may be fundamentally changed.
Following his swearing-in on Friday, Mr. Carney promptly traveled to Paris and London, asserting the need for Canada to strengthen its European alliances as its relationship with the US weakens.
“What is evident is that our trade and security connections are too dependent on the United States. We must diversify,” he stated in London.
Polling Surge
The Conservatives had been enjoying an uptick in polling numbers over the past year, with their leader Pierre Poilievre appearing on course to become Prime Minister.
However, recent polls indicate that the race is now extremely close.
The Liberal Party’s polling gains have partially come at the expense of the left-leaning New Democrats, who progressive voters typically trust on domestic matters like healthcare but are not widely perceived as strong in managing US relations.
Stéphanie Chouinard, a politics professor at Queen’s University, told AFP the election call was anticipated, noting the Liberal gains while highlighting “there is still uncertainty surrounding Mark Carney, who has never run a campaign.”
“It’s going to be a challenge for him under difficult circumstances,” she added.
Maple MAGA
Polling suggests that some voters feel less inclined to support Mr. Poilievre as a counter to Mr. Trump.
The Tory leader has received accolades on social media from prominent Trump ally Elon Musk, and some Liberals have attempted to label Poilievre as “Maple Syrup MAGA.”
Nonetheless, Poilievre is an experienced politician who has aimed to distance himself from Trump.
Mr. Trump appears to have taken note, claiming that the Canadian Conservative is “stupidly no friend of mine.”
Canadian Tory leader Pierre Poilievre has been dubbed ‘Maple Syrup MAGA’ by the Liberal Party.
At a campaign-style gathering in Jonquière, Québec, Mr. Poilievre told reporters that Canada “needs a strong leader,” adding that his plan is to “reduce the economy’s reliance on the United States and prioritize Canada.”
He did not mention Mr. Trump, however.
Geneviève Tellier, a politics professor at the University of Ottawa, stated that both the Conservatives and the New Democrats “will likely focus on issues beyond Mr. Trump’s threats, as that would currently favor the Liberals.”
“It’s a remarkable turnaround for the Liberals,” she remarked to AFP, noting that Canadians are “also seeking a degree of stability” and may view the Liberals, who have been in power since 2015, as less of a risk.
