OTTAWA, Canada — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has called a snap general election following repeated remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump suggesting Canada should become the 51st state, as well as the imposition of tariffs on Canadian exports.
Carney, the former governor of the Bank of England, announced Sunday that the country will hold a five-week election campaign leading to a vote on April 28. His governing Liberal Party had faced a potential election defeat until Trump escalated trade tensions and made sovereignty-related comments that sparked national outrage.
Trump has repeatedly stated that Canada is not a real country and should be part of the United States, while also imposing tariffs on key exports. These actions have triggered a surge in support for the Liberals.
“We’re facing the most significant crisis of our lifetimes due to President Trump’s unjustified trade actions and threats to our sovereignty,” Carney said after requesting the dissolution of Parliament by Canada’s governor-general. “Our response must be to build a strong economy and a more secure Canada. President Trump wants to break us, but we will not let that happen.”
Carney, who led the Bank of Canada through the 2008 financial crisis before becoming the first non-British governor of the Bank of England, replaced Justin Trudeau as prime minister earlier this month. Trudeau had announced his resignation in January following declining support before Trump’s trade war.
The election will determine the makeup of Canada’s 343-seat House of Commons. While several parties are competing, the race is primarily between the Liberals and the Conservatives. The opposition Conservatives, led by Pierre Poilievre, had initially expected a decisive victory, focusing their campaign on economic concerns such as rising food and housing costs and increased immigration.
However, the election now centers on who is best equipped to counter Trump. The U.S. president has already imposed 25% tariffs on Canada’s steel and aluminum and has threatened broader economic measures against all Canadian exports.
“I will insist the president recognize Canada’s independence and sovereignty,” Poilievre said while launching his campaign. “I will demand that he stops imposing unfair tariffs on our nation.”
Poilievre, a populist politician who has pledged to put “Canada first,” said he does not accept the way Trump has treated the country.
