"We are facing the most significant crisis": Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney calls snap election
Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney called a snap election for April 28, seeking a mandate to address the economic threat posed by U.S. President Donald Trump’s newly announced tariffs. Carney said, "We are facing the most significant crisis of our lifetimes because of President Trump's unjustified trade actions and his threats to our sovereignty".
"There is so much more to do to secure Canada, invest in Canada, and unite Canada. That's why I'm asking for a strong positive mandate from my fellow Canadians. I've just requested that the Governor General dissolve Parliament and call an election for April 28, and she has agreed," he announced in a press conference.
In a tweet, Carney stated, "I have just asked the Governor General to dissolve Parliament and call a federal election on April 28. We need to build the strongest economy in the G7. We need to deal with President Trump’s tariffs. Canadians deserve a choice about who should lead that effort for our country."
The Liberal Party selected Carney to handle the Trump challenge, relying on his expertise as a former central banker, despite his lack of political and campaign experience.
The general election was originally scheduled for October 20, but Carney, 60, is looking to capitalize on his growing support. He was chosen as the Liberal Party leader and Prime Minister just as Trump escalated trade tensions and Trudeau stepped down.
With the election set, Carney now has five weeks to gain voter confidence. Recent opinion polls suggest the Liberals hold a slight edge over the opposition Conservatives. The Liberals, in power since 2015, were initially trailing the Conservatives at the start of 2025 but have since gained momentum.
Carney succeeded Justin Trudeau as Prime Minister of Canada on March 14, 2025, following Trudeau’s resignation announcement in January. Mark Carney, a former central banker with no prior elected office experience, was elected leader of the Liberal Party on March 9, 2025, in a landslide victory, securing 85.9% of the vote. He was sworn in at Rideau Hall in Ottawa by Governor General Mary Simon, pledging allegiance to King Charles III.
