Canadian Prime Minister Carney Calls Snap Election, Cites Threat from Trump

TDT | Manama
Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced a snap election for April 28, citing the urgent need for a strong mandate to counter the growing economic and political threats posed by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Carney, who was sworn in as prime minister on March 14, initially expressed a willingness to work with Trump. However, his tone shifted on Sunday as he took a more assertive stance against the U.S. president's recent trade policies and rhetoric.

"We are facing the most significant crisis of our lifetimes because of President Trump's unjustified trade actions and his threats to our sovereignty," Carney declared during a press briefing following the Governor General’s approval of his election request. "Our response must be to build a strong economy and a more secure Canada. President Trump claims that Canada isn’t a real country. He wants to break us so America can own us. We will not let that happen."

The White House has yet to respond to Carney’s remarks.

Deteriorating Relations with the U.S.

The announcement underscores the escalating tensions between Canada and its largest trading partner. Since imposing tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum, Trump has further strained relations by delaying a broad 25% tariff on additional Canadian goods and threatening reciprocal tariffs on key industries, including dairy and lumber.

These actions have sparked concerns among Canadian businesses and policymakers, as well as heightened fears of economic instability. According to Nik Nanos, chief data scientist and founder of Nanos Research, polling data indicates that the potential economic fallout from Trump's policies is currently the top concern among Canadians.

Political Strategy and Election Outlook

While Canada’s next general election was initially scheduled for October 20, Carney appears to be capitalizing on a recent resurgence in support for his Liberal Party. The party, which has been in power since 2015, saw a sharp decline in popularity at the start of the year following former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation. However, recent polls suggest the Liberals have rebounded and now hold a slight edge over the opposition Conservatives.

Carney, a former central banker with no prior political experience, secured the Liberal leadership two weeks ago by positioning himself as the best candidate to challenge Trump’s aggressive trade policies. With only five weeks until election day, he has wasted no time outlining key campaign promises, including a proposed one-percentage-point cut to the lowest income tax bracket.

As the election campaign begins, Carney’s leadership will be tested as he seeks to rally support and solidify his party’s position in what is shaping up to be a defining moment in Canada-U.S. relations.