According to several news sources, Mark Carney, Canada’s next prime minister, is expected to announce a national election for April 28—possibly as early as this Sunday.
Carney, a former two-time central banker, is anticipated to position himself as the candidate most qualified to challenge Donald Trump, while Canadian companies are struggling due to a trade conflict with the United States.
Following the resignation of former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau from his nine-year stint, the 60-year-old political rookie assumed leadership of the Liberal Party.
Carney and his political rivals will begin a five-week campaign after the prime minister announced that he would call an election and ask Parliament to be dissolved.
The precise date of the election is unknown, but the timing of the proposal to dissolve the parliament is.
According to government sources cited by the Globe and Mail and the Associated Press on Thursday, the prime minister is inclined to designate April 28 as the voting date.
Given that a large portion of the present national conversation centers on the ongoing trade war between the US and Canada, especially in light of President Trump’s threats and actions, some argue that Carney would benefit from a shorter campaign.
According to The Globe and Mail, the election is “almost certain to focus on US President Donald Trump’s trade war and his talk of making Canada the 51st state.”
If Trump continues to impose 25% global tariffs on Canadian goods that are not protected by the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) trade agreement, Carney has pledged to enforce Canada’s reciprocal tariffs.
In addition to the 25% tariffs already placed on Canadian steel and aluminum, Trump has promised to apply a wide variety of other penalties on April 2.
Carney and Pierre Poilievre, the leader of the Conservative Party, will probably have to choose between them in the end.
In several election surveys, the Conservatives had a 20-point lead prior to the tariff threat. Polls now suggest that the election will be significantly tighter.
In addition to the Conservatives, who hold 120 seats in the House of Commons and are the official opposition, the Liberals will also have to contend with the Bloc Quebecois, who hold 33 seats, and the New Democrats (NDP), who hold 24 seats, when Canadians cast their ballots next.
