Canada Calls Snap Elections for April 28

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has called early elections for April 28, pledging to counter Donald Trump's push to annex the US's huge northern neighbor, Marion Thibaut reported for Agence France-Presse (AFP).

Carney made it clear that the barrage of trade and sovereignty threats coming from the US president would be the focus of his campaign. I Photo: Mark Carney Facebook

Carney, a former central banker, was chosen by Canada's centrist Liberal Party to replace Justin Trudeau as prime minister, but he has never faced the country’s broader electorate. That will now change, as Carney moved parliamentary elections forward several months from October.

He made it clear that the barrage of trade and sovereignty threats coming from the US president would be the focus of his campaign.

Reporting for Politico, Mickey Djuric revealed that Carney called for snap elections to secure a mandate in his battle against Donald Trump.

The federal campaign kicks off just days before a new round of Trump tariffs, at a time when Canadians are concerned that Trump may follow through on his threats of economic and cultural takeover.

"I've just requested that the governor general dissolve Parliament and call an election for April 28. She has agreed," Carney announced in a speech to the nation, referring to King Charles III's representative in Canada, a member of the British Commonwealth.

"I'm asking Canadians for a strong, positive mandate to deal with President Trump," Carney stated, adding that the Republican leader "wants to break us so America can own us. We will not let that happen."