A federal election has been called by Prime Minister Mark Carney, and on April 28, voters are expected to go to the polls. Carney asked the governor general on Sunday to dissolve Parliament just nine days after he was sworn in as Canada’s new prime minister, following his successful campaign to replace Justin Trudeau as Liberal leader.
Carney said he’s looking for a strong mandate to stand up to U.S. the threats made by President Donald Trump and negotiate “the best deal for Canadians.” “There is so much more to do to secure Canada, to invest in Canada, to build Canada, to unite Canada. That’s why I’m asking for a strong positive mandate from my fellow Canadians,” Carney told reporters in Ottawa Sunday.
“We are facing the most significant crisis of our lifetimes because of President Trump’s unjustified trade actions and his threats to our sovereignty,” he added.The long-anticipated campaign is expected to bring a major change to the federal government regardless of which party wins.
Carney has promised to steer the Liberals in a different direction after Trudeau’s nine-year tenure as prime minister, including his move on March 14 to axe the consumer carbon price and pursuing new economic policies.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, meanwhile, is vowing to reverse nearly all of Trudeau’s policies – from the carbon price on industrial emitters to immigration to taxation – and to shrink the public service.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet are also pushing for change in Ottawa.All federal party leaders are expected to focus their campaigns on the economic threat posed by Trump’s trade war with Canada, which has included several rounds of tariffs with the promise of more to come.
Canada’s sovereignty has also been threatened by Trump, who has called for Canada to become the 51st state in the United States by using “economic force.”
Mark Carney triggers federal election for Canada
