Canada’s newly appointed Prime Minister, Mark Carney, is set to announce snap elections this Sunday in a bid to secure a stronger mandate as the country faces escalating tensions with the United States. Carney, a former central banker, was chosen by the Liberal Party to replace Justin Trudeau but has never contested a national election.
The elections, expected to be scheduled for April 28, will be brought forward from the planned date in October, according to government sources. Carney is expected to make the announcement at 12:30 local time (1630 GMT) in a speech to the nation.
The Canadian government, under Trudeau for the past decade, has struggled with declining popularity, but Carney hopes to capitalize on a surge of national pride as President Donald Trump’s threats and actions create a sense of crisis. Trump’s repeated comments dismissing Canada’s sovereignty and suggesting it should become the 51st state, along with his ongoing trade war and tariffs on Canadian goods, have dominated the political discourse.
Carney has emphasized the need for a strong and clear mandate in these challenging times. "In this time of crisis, the government needs a strong and clear mandate," Carney stated during a recent speech in Edmonton.
While domestic issues such as living costs and immigration typically dominate Canadian elections, the threat posed by Trump has become a central issue in this race. The US president’s hostility toward Canada has reshaped the political landscape, with Carney’s candidacy gaining momentum in the polls. Analysts are calling the upcoming election highly unpredictable, with voter turnout expected to rise amid the heightened political tensions.
Pierre Poilievre, leader of the Conservative Party, was once considered the frontrunner but now faces a tougher challenge from Carney’s Liberals. Poilievre, a seasoned politician with a populist reputation, has long been a vocal critic of the Trudeau government. However, Carney’s leadership has narrowed the gap in polling, making the election too close to call.
Carney, 60, brings a wealth of experience outside electoral politics, having served at Goldman Sachs and led both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England. Smaller opposition parties may struggle as Canadians may prefer a large mandate for one of the two major parties to strengthen their position against Trump.
Meanwhile, President Trump has shown little interest in the outcome of Canada’s election, stating that he doesn’t care who wins. However, he also remarked that before he intervened, the Conservative Party had been leading by a significant margin. Despite his indifference, Trump continues to push ahead with plans to impose additional tariffs on Canada starting April 2.
