Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has called a snap election – saying he needed a strong mandate to deal with the threat that Donald Trump‘s tariffs pose to the economy.
Unelected Carney, who was made leader of the Canadian Liberal party after Justin Trudeau stepped down, is attempting to sweep the polls and capitalize on the recovery the party has made in recent weeks.
The next election was not due until October 20, but it will now go ahead before the end of next month on April 28, Carney announced on Sunday.
Carney took a swipe at Trump during the speech – saying that the GOP leader has caused the most significant ‘crisis of our lifetimes’ and threatened Canadian freedom. This is in relation to Trump’s desire to make the country the US’s 51st state.
‘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 said.
‘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.
‘I’ve just requested that the Governor General dissolve Parliament and call an election for April 28th, and she has agreed,’ Carney told reporters after the Governor General – the personal representative of King Charles, Canada’s head of state – approved his request for an election.
Carney, a former two-time central banker with no previous political or election campaign experience, captured the Liberal leadership two weeks ago by persuading party members he was the best person to tackle Trump.
Although the next election was not due until October 20, Carney is hoping to capitalize on a remarkable recovery by his Liberal party in the polls since January
Carney took a swipe at Trump during the speech – saying that the GOP leader has caused the most significant ‘crisis of our lifetimes’ and threatened Canadian freedom. This is in relation to Trump’s desire to make the country the US’s 51st state