TORONTO (AP) — Newly appointed Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, alongside his Conservative rival, emphasized that U.S. President Donald Trump must acknowledge Canada’s sovereignty as they launched their election campaigns on Sunday amidst a backdrop of trade disputes and annexation threats from Trump.
Carney revealed that the election campaign will span five weeks, culminating in the vote scheduled for April 28.
“President Trump asserts that Canada isn’t a legitimate country. He aims to undermine us so that America can take control. We will not allow that to occur,” Carney stated.
READ MORE: Carney takes office as Canada’s new prime minister while the nation grapples with Trump’s trade conflict
The governing Liberals, initially appearing set for a historic electoral loss this year, found new momentum following Trump’s initiation of a trade war. Trump has frequently suggested that Canada should become the 51st state of the U.S. and, on Friday, acknowledged that he has disrupted the Canadian political landscape.
Trump’s almost daily criticisms of Canada’s sovereignty have angered Canadians and fueled a rise in Canadian nationalism, which has positively impacted Liberal poll ratings.
“We are confronting the most significant crisis of our lifetimes due to President Trump’s unwarranted trade policies and his threats to our sovereignty,” Carney remarked.
The election campaign will occur over 37 days for 343 seats in the House of Commons. While there are other parties contesting, the Liberals and Conservatives are the only two with realistic prospects of leading a government. The party that garners a majority in Parliament, either independently or with coalition support, will form the next government, and its leader will become prime minister.
Carney succeeded Justin Trudeau, who announced his resignation in January but remained in power until the Liberal Party elected a new leader on March 9 following the leadership contest.
The opposition Conservatives intended to focus the election narrative on Trudeau, whose popularity waned amid increasing food and housing costs coupled with a surge in immigration. However, following years of bilateral stability, the election is now anticipated to revolve around who is best prepared to address issues with Trump.
Carney asserted that Canadians face a choice between “a Canadian Trump or a government that brings the nation together.” He remarked, “We have witnessed the outcomes of negativity and division in the United States.”
Trump imposed 25 percent tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum and is threatening extensive tariffs on all Canadian goods—as well as those from all of America’s trade partners—set to take effect on April 2.
Pierre Poilievre, the leader of the Conservatives, is Carney’s principal adversary. The party and Poilievre appeared on course for a significant victory in this year’s federal election until Trump’s frequent trade and annexation threats disrupted their trajectory.
Poilievre stated he will confront Trump, while Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, a conservative ally, noted in an interview that Poilievre would align closely with the “new direction in America.”
“I will demand that the president acknowledges the independence and sovereignty of Canada, and I will insist he ceases imposing tariffs on our nation,” Poilievre declared during the launch of his campaign.
“I recognize that many individuals are feeling worried, angry, and anxious. And rightly so, due to the president’s unacceptable threats against our country.”
Carney has yet to have a conversation with Trump, and it is unlikely to occur until after the election. Trump has ridiculed Trudeau, referring to him as a governor, but he has yet to mention Carney by name.
Carney indicated there are specific prerequisites for a discussion with Trump.
“Mr. Trump must accept that Canada is a sovereign nation. He needs to state that and acknowledge it before we can engage in discussions about a trade agreement,” he explained.
“Let’s just say no meetings have been arranged.”
Carney, 60, previously led the Bank of Canada during the 2008 financial crisis. In 2013, he became the first non-citizen of the UK to head the Bank of England, navigating the ramifications of Brexit.
Carney has shifted the Liberal Party further to the right, eliminating Trudeau’s flagship carbon tax and reversing a capital gains tax increase. He also announced a tax reduction for the middle class on Sunday.
Poilievre, 45, long seen as the party’s aggressive spokesperson and a populist figure, claims he will prioritize “Canada first.” He promised to cut funding for Canada’s public broadcaster and will prohibit the media from accompanying his campaign buses and planes.
