Canada's new prime minister calls for snap election in April!
Canada's new Prime Minister Mark Carney and his conservative opponent launched their election campaigns on Sunday against the backdrop of a trade war and annexation threats from U.S. President Donald Trump. Carney announced a five-week campaign ahead of the April 28 vote.
The governing Liberals had appeared poised for a historic election defeat this year until Trump declared a trade war. Trump has repeatedly said Canada should become the "51st state of the United States" and he acknowledged Friday that he has upended Canadian policy.
Trump's near-daily attacks on Canadian sovereignty have angered Canadians and led to a surge in Canadian nationalism that has boosted Liberal poll numbers. Carney has said the government needs a strong and clear mandate in a time of crisis. "The upcoming election will be one of the most important in our lifetimes," he posted on social media overnight.
The election campaign for the 343 seats or constituencies in the House of Commons will last 37 days. While other parties are competing, the Liberals and Conservatives are the only two that have a chance of forming a government. The party that commands a majority in parliament, either alone or with the support of another party, will form the next government and its leader will be the prime minister.
Carney replaced Justin Trudeau, who announced his resignation in January but remained in power until the Liberal Party elected a new leader on March 9, following a leadership contest within the ruling party. The opposition Conservatives had hoped to win the election for Trudeau, whose popularity has fallen as food and housing prices have risen and immigration has surged. But after decades of bipartisan stability, the vote is now expected to focus on who is best equipped to deal with Trump.
Tariff war
Trump imposed 25% tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum and is threatening sweeping tariffs on all Canadian products, as well as all of America's trading partners, on April 2. Pierre Poilievre, the leader of the Conservatives, is Carney's main challenger. The party and Poilievre were on course for a landslide victory in Canada's federal election this year, until Trump's near-daily threats on trade and annexation derailed them.
Poilievre said he would oppose Trump, but Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, a Conservative ally, said in an interview that Poilievre would be “very much in sync” with the “new direction in America.” “I will insist that the president recognize the independence and sovereignty of Canada. I will insist that he stop tariffing our nation,” Poilievre said as he launched his campaign.
Poilievre said he does not respect “the treatment he has given our country.” “I know that many people are concerned, angry and concerned. And with good reason as a result of the president’s unacceptable threats against our country,” he said.
"You are concerned about your job and the sovereignty of our nation. And you are angry at the sense of betrayal that these unacceptable words and tariffs have caused us all to experience. I share your anger and I share your concern for our future."
Carney has yet to have a phone call with Trump, and that may not happen until after the election. Trump has mocked Trudeau by calling him a governor, but he has yet to mention Carney by name. Carney, 60, was head of the Bank of Canada during the 2008 financial crisis. In 2013, he became the first non-UK citizen to lead the Bank of England, helping to manage the impact of Brexit.
Poilievre is a career politician and ardent populist who says he will put “Canadians first.” He pledged to defund Canada’s public broadcaster and will not allow members of the press to board his campaign buses and planes.
Poll
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