Canada's PM calls snap election for April 28
New Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called a snap election for April 28, saying he needed a strong mandate to deal with the threat posed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
“We are facing the most significant crisis of our lifetimes because of President Trump's unjustified trade actions, and his threats to our sovereignty.”
The comments are a sign of how relations between the two long-time allies and major trading partners have deteriorated. Trump has imposed tariffs on Canadian goods and threatened to annex it as the 51st state.
“He wants to break us, so America can own us. We will not let that happen. We are over the shock of the betrayal. But, we should never forget the lessons.” The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Carney's remarks.
Carney, who was sworn in on March 14, captured the Liberal leadership by persuading party members he was the best person to tackle Trump.
The next election was not due until October, but Carney is hoping to capitalize on his party's remarkable recovery in the polls since January. It follows former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation, as well as Trump's threats.
Earlier this month, Trump delayed a broad 25% tariff on some Canadian goods for 30 days.
He has since imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum imports and threatened reciprocal tariffs on additional goods, including Canadian dairy and lumber, starting April 2.
Canadians are rallying for their country and seeing a resurgence in nationalism. “When we are attacked, we stand together.”
Residents gathered in Toronto to denounce U.S. tariffs. Canada-U.S. relations top the list of issues preoccupying residents, according to recent polls.
Carney, a former two-time central banker with no previous political or election campaign experience, now has five weeks to win over Canadians.
Carney proposed cutting the lowest income tax bracket by one percentage point.
Polls suggest the Liberals, who have been in power since 2015, have slightly pulled ahead of the official opposition Conservatives, who had led earlier in the year.
