New Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Sunday (March 23, 2025) called a snap election for April 28, 2025, citing the need for a strong mandate to address the economic threat posed by U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Despite the next scheduled election not being until October 20, 2025, Mr. Carney is looking to capitalize on his Liberal party’s resurgence in the polls since January, following Mr. Trump’s trade threats and former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation.
“We are currently facing a significant crisis due to President Trump’s trade actions and threats to our sovereignty,” Mr. Carney stated.
“There is much work to be done to secure Canada, to invest in its future, to build unity. That’s why I am seeking a strong mandate from the Canadian people. I have requested the Governor-General to dissolve Parliament and call for an election on April 28th, and she has granted the request,” Mr. Carney announced to reporters after receiving approval from the Governor-General, Canada’s head of state’s personal representative.
Mr. Carney, a former central banker with no prior political experience, won the Liberal leadership recently by positioning himself as the best candidate to handle Mr. Trump.
With five weeks to garner support, polls indicate that the Liberals, who have been in power since 2015 and were initially trailing the Conservatives at the beginning of the year, are now slightly ahead.
“This election has shifted from a desire for change to a focus on leadership,” stated Darrell Bricker, CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs. “The Conservative party’s ability to criticize the Liberals has diminished, as people are more concerned with the present and near future rather than the past decade,” he added.
The Conservatives have criticized Mr. Carney as an elitist who plans to continue high government spending policies from the Trudeau era. They have also raised questions about his personal financial assets being transferred to a blind trust.
Mr. Carney reacted defensively when questioned about the trust, accusing the reporter of creating conflict. This defensive response may give the Conservatives hope for potential missteps during Mr. Carney’s first campaign.
Securing support in Quebec, where French-speaking voters are influential, will be crucial for any victory. Mr. Carney faced difficulties responding in French at a press conference, in contrast to Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, who is fluent in French and has extensive political experience.
Laura Stephenson, a politics professor at Western University, noted that Mr. Carney’s lack of experience may not be a major issue given the current political climate influenced by the Trump administration.
An online Angus Reid poll showed the Liberals leading with 42% support, while the Conservatives trailed at 37%. A Leger poll also indicated a lead for the Liberals with 42% compared to the Conservatives at 39%.
Published – March 23, 2025 10:29 pm IST
