Canada is set to hold a snap election on 28 April, nearly six months ahead of the originally scheduled date of 27 October, following the dissolution of the House of Commons.
Prime Minister Mark Carney, who assumed office earlier this month, met Governor General Mary Simon in Ottawa on Sunday morning and sought the dissolution of Parliament, thereby triggering the electoral process.
After his meeting at Rideau Hall, Carney formally announced the election date, stating, “I’m asking for a strong positive mandate from my fellow Canadians.”
In his campaign-style speech, Carney prominently referenced the threats posed by United States President Donald Trump.
“He wants to break us so America can own us, we will never allow that to happen,” he declared, emphasising the need for a fresh mandate to “stand up” to Trump.
Carney has positioned himself on a populist platform, vowing “big change” through measures such as a middle-class tax cut and the repeal of several policies implemented by his predecessor, Justin Trudeau.
Among the reversals he pledged are the elimination of a consumer carbon tax and the scrapping of a capital gains hike.
The Prime Minister will contest the election from Nepean in Ontario, a suburban riding within the national capital, Ottawa.
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The development follows the revocation of Indo-Canadian MP Chandra Arya’s candidacy for the 2025 election by the Liberal Party on Thursday.
“We’re thrilled to announce that our Leader, Mark Carney, will be our candidate for Nepean in the next election,” the ruling Liberal Party said in a statement.
The party highlighted Carney’s connection to Ottawa, where he “raised his family, devoted his career to public service, and always gave back to his community.”
The decision to cancel Arya’s candidacy has raised questions, as the party merely cited unspecified “new information” reviewed by the National Campaign Co-Chair. No further details have been disclosed regarding the reasons behind Arya’s abrupt removal.
On Sunday, the opposition Conservative Party launched its election campaign, with leader Pierre Poilievre addressing a gathering in Gatineau, Quebec.
In a scathing critique, he sought to link Carney with his unpopular predecessor, stating, “After the lost Liberal decade, the question is whether Canadians can afford a fourth Liberal term.”
While the Trudeau legacy remains a liability for the ruling party, the external threat posed by Trump and the immediate issue of tariffs could be decisive factors in the election.
Carney, who is not a sitting member of the House, will formally commence his election campaign in the Atlantic region of Canada before travelling across provinces and territories.
His tenure as Prime Minister has not included a parliamentary session, as the House had been scheduled to reconvene on 24 March following its prorogation on 6 January.
However, the expected no-confidence motion against his government has been pre-empted by his decision to seek a fresh mandate.
Appearing at an event in Edmonton on Thursday, Carney remarked, “What is clear is in this time of crisis, the government needs a strong and clear mandate.”
His electoral campaign will now test whether Canadians share his conviction.
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