Donald Trump returned as the U.S. president for a second term in January this year, bringing back global trade tensions. One of his major moves has been imposing a 25% tariff on all Canadian products.
Amid this economic pressure, Canada is preparing for early elections. Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to announce early elections today, according to a report by AFP. The decision comes as Carney seeks a stronger mandate to counter Trump’s trade war and sovereignty threats.
Mark Carney was sworn in as Canada’s new prime minister in mid-March after being elected as the leader of the Liberal Party on March 10. He succeeded Justin Trudeau, marking the end of Trudeau’s tenure on March 14.
Since taking office, Carney has been vocal about the U.S. tariffs, calling them “the biggest crisis of our lives.” The former Bank of Canada governor has never faced the general electorate before. However, if he announces elections months ahead of the scheduled October polls, the political landscape could shift significantly.
A government source told AFP that Carney will address Canada’s 41 million citizens today at 12:30 PM local time to announce his decision.
The Liberal government, in power for a decade, faced declining popularity. However, Trump’s aggressive stance has sparked a wave of nationalism in Canada, which Carney hopes will help him secure a stronger majority.
Trump has repeatedly dismissed Canada’s sovereignty, referring to it as an artificial concept. He has even suggested making Canada the 51st U.S. state and once called former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau “Governor Trudeau.”
In response, Carney firmly stated after taking office, “America is not Canada. And Canada will never, under any circumstances, be part of America.”
The upcoming elections are expected to focus on economic issues and immigration. However, the key question remains—who can best handle Trump’s aggressive policies?
Canada, historically a close ally of the U.S. and a NATO member, now faces one of the most challenging political scenarios due to Trump’s confrontational approach.