Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called Sunday for a snap election to be held in April, in which Canadian voters will elect either him or his rival in the Conservative Party, saying he wants a strong mandate as the country faces a “significant threat” from President Donald Trump and his administration’s tariff war with Canada.
Canada’s Liberal Leader and Prime Minister-elect Mark Carney speaks after being elected as the new Liberal Party leader, in Ottawa on March 9.
AFP via Getty Images
Key Takeaways
- Carney dissolved Canada’s parliament and called a snap election for April 28, saying in an address he wants a “strong, positive mandate” as the country responds to Trump’s trade war with Canada and his push to make the country the U.S.’ “51st state.”
- Trump has imposed a 25% tariff on all imports from Canada that aren’t part of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, and Canada has imposed retaliatory tariffs in response, which has led to widespread outcry in Canada, with Canadian politicians pulling American alcohol off their shelves and small businesses reportedly getting caught in the crosshairs.
- Canada is “facing the most significant crisis of our lifetimes because of President Trump’s unjustified trade actions and his threats to our sovereignty,” Carney said Sunday, saying the country must “build a strong economy and a more secure Canada” and calling for a “new Canada built by us, for us.”
- Carney was elected by Canada’s Liberal Party leadership earlier in March to succeed former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau after he resigned, but his leadership has not yet been tested in a national vote among Canada’s electorate.
- The prime minister will face off in the snap election against Canadian Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre, who launched his campaign Sunday and has similarly spoken out against Trump’s efforts to seize Canada and tariff the country’s U.S. exports, though he holds more conservative views that are closer to Trump and the Republican Party.
Crucial Quote
“President Trump claims that Canada isn’t a real country. He wants to break us, so America can own us,” Carney said Sunday. “We will not let that happen.”
What Is A Snap Election?
A snap election is an impromptu election that leaders can call even if one isn’t scheduled to happen. (Canada’s next election wasn’t scheduled to take place until the fall.) A snap election must take place at least 36 days after the election is called, so the April 28 date is the soonest the election could happen. In Canada, voters elect members of parliament rather than the leader themselves, and the country’s prime minister will be the leader of whichever party gets the most seats. That means voters won’t cast a ballot for Carney or Poilievre directly, but will rather vote for candidates affiliated with their parties.
Who’s Ahead In The Polls?
An Abacus poll conducted March 17-20 found the Conservative Party is only narrowly ahead in the polls, with 39% support, compared to the Liberal Party’s 36%. Liberal Party support has surged in the months since Trump took office, however, coming back from being more than 20 points behind Conservatives at the end of 2024 to now be running neck and neck.
Why Is The Election Being Called?
Carney suggested Sunday the election is directly being called to handle the country’s response to Trump and the economic uncertainty his tariffs have created. The “best way” for Canada to respond to Trump “is to build our strength here at home,” Carney said Sunday, also announcing a tax cut for Canadians in the lowest tax bracket. An Abacus poll released March 16 found 50% of Canadians rank Trump and his administration as one of their top three issues facing the country, second only to the rising cost of living (61%). Canadians largely have a negative view of Trump, with the poll finding only 13% of voters view him favorably.
Who Is Mark Carney?
Carney, 59, is a former Goldman Sachs executive who previously led the Banks of Canada and England, the central banks of each country that control their monetary policy. Carney also served as the United Nations’ Special Envoy on Climate Action and Finance before announcing in January his bid to serve as Trudeau’s successor. The now-prime minister positioned himself as a political “outsider” who would bring his expertise to reform Canada’s economy, ultimately winning the Liberal Party’s vote to succeed Trudeau with 85.9% support. If Carney loses the snap election, he would be Canada’s shortest-serving prime minister, CBC News notes.
Who Is Pierre Poilievre?
Poilevre has been the leader of Canada’s Conservative Party since 2022. He has long served as a member of parliament, initially entering as the youngest member when he was first elected in 2004 at age 25. Poilevre has been described as a “combative” and populist leader who’s pushed the anti-elitist rhetoric that Trump and his allies have often embraced, and BBC News notes he’s taken stances like supporting protests against vaccine mandates and decrying “wokeism.”
He is ideologically less far to the right than much of the U.S. Republican Party, however, describing the Conservative Party as “pro-immigration” and calling for new immigrants to be integrated into Canadian society. Poilevre has also opposed Trump’s rhetoric suggesting he wants Canada to become part of the U.S., pushing a “Canada First” campaign message and insisting, “Canada will never be the 51st state.”
While announcing his campaign Sunday, Poilevre said he would work with Trump, but “will insist the president recognize the independence and sovereignty of Canada. I will insist that he stop tariffing our nation.” The New York Times notes Poilevre’s lead in Canada’s polls has dropped as the country has become increasingly aligned against Trump, however, and Poilevre has garnered support from Trump allies like billionaire Elon Musk, who shared Poilevre’s interview with commentator Jordan Peterson in January, writing, “Great interview.”
Key Background
Trump’s presidency has upended the U.S.’ longstanding close alliance with Canada, as Trump has repeatedly suggested the U.S. should absorb its northern neighbor and levied tariffs because he believed Canada hadn’t done enough to curb the flow of undocumented immigrants and fentanyl into the U.S.
The U.S. president’s actions have led to widespread outrage in Canada, with residents boycotting American products and travel while politicians bemoan tensions with the country’s closest ally. Carney was elected in March after Trudeau announced his resignation in January, which came as the longtime leader faced increasing criticism from within his own party.
Trudeau’s deputy prime minister and finance chief Chrystia Freeland quit his administration weeks earlier, which was viewed as a flashpoint leading to his resignation, reportedly after she disagreed with his plan for a two-month holiday tax break and believed the country should instead start preparing its economy for the impact of Trump’s tariffs. Trudeau said he would resign after the Liberal Party found a replacement for him, which it did with Carney’s election.
