Canada’s new Prime Minister Mark Carney has called a snap election for April 28, saying he needs a strong public mandate to confront growing threats from U.S. President Donald Trump, whom he accused of trying to “break” Canada.
Carney, sworn in just over a week ago, made the announcement on Sunday after receiving approval from the Governor General, King Charles’ representative in Canada.
“We are facing the most significant crisis of our lifetimes,” Carney told reporters, citing Trump’s trade tariffs and his provocative comments suggesting Canada could be annexed as the 51st U.S. state.
“President Trump claims that Canada isn't a real country. He wants to break us so America can own us. We will not let that happen,” Carney declared.
A former central banker with no prior campaign experience, Carney took over the Liberal Party leadership two weeks ago, replacing Justin Trudeau, who stepped down earlier this year. Since then, Liberal support has rebounded in national polls.
An Angus Reid poll published Monday put the Liberals at 42%, ahead of the opposition Conservatives at 37%. A separate Leger poll showed similar momentum, with Liberals at 42% and Conservatives at 39%.
Analysts say the focus of the election has shifted from internal politics to leadership under external pressure.
“This election is now much more about leadership,” said Darrell Bricker, CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs. “Trump’s pressure has changed the stakes.”
Despite the momentum, Carney faces several hurdles. Conservatives have accused him of elitism, questioned the transparency of his blind trust, and criticised him for continuing Trudeau-era spending policies.
Carney’s temperament came under scrutiny last week after he snapped at a reporter’s question about his finances, accusing them of “conflict and ill will.”
He also stumbled during a press event in Quebec, struggling to respond in French—a weakness the Conservatives may exploit. Their leader Pierre Poilievre is a fluent French speaker and seasoned political campaigner.
Still, political experts say Trump’s presence in the background may shift voters’ priorities.
“Carney’s inexperience might matter less because of the external pressure from Trump,” said Laura Stephenson, a political science professor. “Voters may give him more grace than usual.”
Carney now has five weeks to convince Canadians he’s the leader to stand up to Trump—and protect Canada’s independence.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected a German proposal to grant Ukraine “associate” membership of the European Union, warning it w...
The United States is stepping up its efforts to rebuild ties with India, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio using his visit to New Delhi to promote e...
An interactive map showcasing the Christian heritage of Caucasian Albania in Garabagh was presented in London this week, highlighting Azerbaijan’...
The 13th edition of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) held in Baku showed Azerbaijan’s “meaningful contribution to multilateralism,” the country’s...
The nomination of Russian-Armenian businessman Ruben Vardanyan for the 2026 Václav Havel Human Rights Prize has triggered criticism....
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected a German proposal to grant Ukraine “associate” membership of the European Union, warning it would leave Kyiv without a meaningful voice in the bloc.
An interactive map showcasing the Christian heritage of Caucasian Albania in Garabagh was presented in London this week, highlighting Azerbaijan’s efforts to preserve and promote the religious and cultural legacy of the region.
The 13th edition of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) held in Baku showed Azerbaijan’s “meaningful contribution to multilateralism,” the country’s President Ilham Aliyev has said.
The nomination of Russian-Armenian businessman Ruben Vardanyan for the 2026 Václav Havel Human Rights Prize has triggered criticism.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has said Belarus will not be dragged into the war in Ukraine, while also stressing that Minsk and Moscow would jointly respond to any aggression against them.
Fighting in the Russia–Ukraine war has intensified sharply, with both sides launching significant strikes far beyond the front lines as the conflict enters its 1,549th day.
As the 13th edition of the World Urban Forum ended, Azerbaijan's Pavilion showcased reconstruction efforts in its liberated territories and foregrounded the importance of mine removal in resettlement efforts.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 23rd May, covering the latest developments you need to know.
A French appeals court has found Airbus and Air France guilty of corporate manslaughter over the 2009 Rio–Paris crash, marking a major development in a case that has stretched on for 17 years.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected a German proposal to grant Ukraine “associate” membership of the European Union, warning it would leave Kyiv without a meaningful voice in the bloc.
The United States is stepping up its efforts to rebuild ties with India, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio using his visit to New Delhi to promote energy cooperation.
At least 90 miners have died in a gas explosion at a coal mine in northern China, in what is the country's deadliest mining accident in 17 years. The blast occurred on Friday at 19:29 local time (11:39 GMT) at the Liushenyu coal mine in Shanxi province, according to Chinese state media.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 23rd May, covering the latest developments you need to know.
SpaceX has completed a successful test flight of Starship V3, the largest and most powerful rocket in history.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment