Four days after securing his first elected office and leading the Liberal Party to retain power, Prime Minister Mark Carney outlined a timetable and legislative agenda for his new government.
During a news conference on Friday, Mr. Carney announced plans to travel to Washington on Tuesday to initiate negotiations with President Trump regarding economic and trade issues, particularly focusing on the United States’ 25 percent tariffs on Canadian-made vehicles, steel, and aluminum, which had been significant topics during the campaign.
On Election Day, President Trump reiterated his longstanding assertion that Canada should become the 51st state. However, Mr. Carney stated that in his conversation with Mr. Trump the day after the election, Canada’s sovereignty was not mentioned. Trump publicly commended Mr. Carney, calling him “a very nice gentleman,” but noted that both Mr. Carney and his main opponent, Pierre Poilievre, expressed animosity towards him during the campaign.
Mr. Carney offered limited details on his strategy for negotiations with Mr. Trump, emphasizing his preference to avoid public discussions. He reaffirmed that Canada’s sovereignty is non-negotiable.
The election results presented a mixed outcome for both the Liberals and Conservatives. Under Mr. Carney's leadership, the Liberals achieved their highest percentage of the vote since 1984, securing 169 seats, just shy of the 172 needed for a majority in the House of Commons. (The final seat count may be affected by recounts and Elections Canada’s validation process.) Meanwhile, Mr. Poilievre led the Conservatives to their largest share of the vote and an increase in seats, particularly in Ontario, yet still faced defeat.
Despite the challenges, the Liberal victory marked a remarkable comeback in recent Canadian political history. Prior to Mr. Trump’s criticism of Canadian sovereignty and Justin Trudeau’s resignation, the Liberals had trailed the Conservatives by as much as 27 percentage points in the polls.
Analysts suggest that Canadians may not extend leniency to Mr. Carney, a former banker, as he navigates his new role as a novice politician. In a commentary, Shachi Kurl, president of the Angus Reid Institute, noted that the international community is closely observing Canada’s responses to developments from the United States.
For Mr. Poilievre, the loss was further complicated by his defeat in his long-held seat in Carleton, which was claimed by first-time candidate Bruce Fanjoy. Many constituents, including Conservatives, expressed dissatisfaction towards Mr. Poilievre’s support for the trucker convoy that disrupted downtown Ottawa in 2022.
On Friday, Damien Kurek, a Conservative, announced his intention to resign from his Alberta seat to allow Mr. Poilievre to run in a by-election and return to Parliament. Mr. Carney indicated he would not postpone this vote, despite having the authority to delay it for up to six months.
In other election results, Joe Tay, a Conservative candidate facing legal issues and online attacks, lost to Liberal candidate Maggie Chi in a Toronto riding.
Mr. Carney also revealed plans to announce his new cabinet during the week of May 12, with the new Parliament set to commence on May 26. A notable event will occur the following day, as King Charles is scheduled to read the throne speech, marking the first time a monarch has performed this duty since 1977, when Queen Elizabeth did so. Mr. Carney characterized this occurrence as a reinforcement of Canada’s sovereignty amid Mr. Trump’s ambitions.
In response to a question regarding the reception of having a member of the British Crown read the throne speech in Quebec, Mr. Carney struggled to articulate his thoughts, ultimately stating that it signifies Canada’s sovereignty as a nation.