Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney triggered a snap federal election on Sunday at Rideau Hall in Ottawa.
After meeting with Gov. Gen. Mary Simon to dissolve Parliament, Carney called the coming 36-day campaign an important moment for Canadians to defend their sovereignty and the economy against U.S. President Donald Trump’s annexation threats and tariffs on Canadian goods.
Earlier this month, Trump slapped a 25 percent import tax on Canadian goods, prompting Canada to retaliate with tariffs on targeted U.S. goods.
Carney called Trump’s tarrifs “an attack on Canadian workers and industries, and the best way to deal with this crisis is to build our strength here at home.”
“Trump wants to break us so he can own us. We will not let that happen,” added the Liberal leader.
Carney proposed a middle-class tax cut that he vows will help working Canadians get ahead and boost the average income of two-income families by $825 a year.
“I’m asking Canadians for a strong positive mandate to deal with President Trump and to build a new Canadian economy that works for everyone,” said Carney.
Polls hint at recent surge in support for Liberals
For much of the last few years, public opinion polls suggested Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre would easily win a majority government. But former prime minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation—and U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war and taunts about Canada becoming the 51st state—upended Canadian politics.
According to CBC News’ Poll Tracker, an aggregator of public opinion polling, Carney’s Liberals overtook the Conservatives in recent weeks.
Pierre Poilievre’s plan
Poilievre used his campaign launch to vow Canada would never become the 51st state.
“We must put Canada first,” said Poilievre, stressing that a Conservative government will cut taxes and stand up to Donald Trump’s threats.
Poilievre vowed a Conservative government would also “unleash Canada’s natural resources.”
The Conservative leader also criticized the Liberal Party’s economic policy, saying four more years of Liberal rule would slow growth and disturb investment.
Jagmeet Singh’s plan
Speaking from an Ottawa hotel, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh promised his party would focus on worker rights and affordability for all Canadians.
“You deserve a prime minister you could trust to make decisions in your best interest, not to advance his personal wealth,” said Singh, taking a shot at Carney, a former central banker.
Yves-François Blanchet’s plan
In his campaign launch, Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet framed the election as a decision for Quebecers that needs to be made by Quebecers, calling the Bloc the party best suited to advocate for the French-speaking province in Ottawa.
“The freedom and the economy of Canada are very precious to all Canadians, just as the freedom and economy of Quebec are very precious to Quebecers,” said Blanchet.