OTTAWA, Canada: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced a snap election for 28 April, saying his government requires a “strong and clear mandate” to address growing economic and diplomatic tensions with the United States.
Speaking in Edmonton on Sunday, Carney, who was sworn in as prime minister just last week, said he needed voter backing to counter US President Donald Trump’s trade policies and safeguard Canada’s economy. “There is so much more to do to secure Canada,” Carney told supporters.
Carney, 60, a former governor of both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, was appointed leader of the centrist Liberal Party following the resignation of Justin Trudeau.
However, he has never faced the electorate directly. To remedy this, he confirmed he would be contesting a parliamentary seat in Nepean, a riding in Ottawa, as part of the election campaign.
US dominate election narrative
The election campaign is expected to be dominated by Canada’s strained relationship with the United States.
Trump has imposed 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian imports, including steel and aluminium, sparking fears of economic instability.
The Canadian government has responded with countermeasures targeting $60 billion worth of US goods. However, Trump has threatened further tariffs on 2 April, raising concerns of an escalating trade war.
“The trade war with America is one of the most significant threats of our lifetimes,” Carney said, accusing Trump of seeking to undermine Canadian sovereignty. “He wants to break us so America will own us. We will not let that happen,” he declared.
Trump takes credit for altering Canada’s political landscape
Carney’s decision to dissolve parliament and call the snap election comes as polls indicate his party has closed the gap with the opposition Conservatives, led by Pierre Poilievre.
The Liberals had suffered a decline in popularity under Trudeau, but recent surveys suggest Carney has revitalised the party’s standing.
Meanwhile, Trump has dismissed the significance of the Canadian election, telling reporters: “I don’t care who wins up there.”
However, he took credit for altering the political landscape in Canada, adding, “Before I got involved, the Conservative was leading by 35 points.”
