Carney’s Liberals Triumph in Canada Election, Set for Minority Govt

• Trump’s tariffs and annexation talk boost Carney’s appeal.
• Carney highlights his economic background to counter Trump’s threats.
• The U.S. President reiterates his suggestion for Canada to become the 51st state.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal Party managed to retain power in the election held on Monday, although CTV News foresees they may not achieve the majority government Carney desired to facilitate tariff negotiations with U.S. President Donald Trump.

The Liberal Party aimed to win 172 out of the 343 electoral districts in the House of Commons to secure a governing majority without relying on smaller parties.

As reported by CTV, the Liberals were leading or had been elected in 156 districts, while the Conservatives followed closely behind with 145.

The decision from British Columbia, the westernmost province where polls closed last, might determine whether the Liberals achieve a majority.

Shachi Kurl, president of the Angus Reid Institute, shared insights with Reuters about the essential elements influencing the Liberal victory.

“It was the ‘anybody-but-Conservative’ mentality, the impact of Trump’s tariffs, and the departure of Trudeau that allowed many left-leaning and traditional Liberal voters to return to the party,” Kurl explained, referencing the resignation of the oft-unpopular former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Carney has pledged a firm stance with Washington regarding tariff impositions, asserting that Canada must invest significant funds to decrease its dependence on the U.S. However, the right-leaning Conservatives expressed considerable strength, calling for change after more than nine years under Liberal governance.

Typically, minority governments in Canada last no longer than two and a half years.

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation predicted a win for the Liberals but did not immediately indicate whether it would be a majority or minority government.

This election result marks a noteworthy resurgence for the Liberals, who were trailing by 20 points in the polls back in January, prior to Trudeau announcing his resignation and Trump launching tariff threats.

Trump’s warnings instigated a wave of nationalism, enhancing support for Carney, a political newcomer with prior leadership experience at two G7 central banks.

In a recent campaign statement, Trump indicated he might impose a 25% tariff on Canadian vehicles, claiming that the U.S. doesn’t want those imports. Earlier, he had suggested utilizing “economic force” to persuade Canada to accept statehood as the 51st state.

Carney has stressed that his extensive experience with economic matters positions him as the top candidate to handle Trump effectively, while Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has focused on issues surrounding the cost of living, crime, and a housing crisis.

On social media, Trump reiterated his call for Canada to join the U.S. as the 51st state, expressing, “Good luck to the great people of Canada! Elect the man who has the strength and wisdom to cut your taxes in half and enhance your military power, free of charge, to the highest level in the world. Your Car, Steel, Aluminum, Lumber, Energy, and all other businesses can QUADRUPLE in size with NO TARIFFS OR TAXES if Canada becomes the cherished 51st state of America. No more artificially drawn lines from the past.”

Conservative Disappointment

Tensions with the U.S. propelled supporters from two smaller parties, the left-wing New Democratic Party and the separatist Bloc Quebecois, to align with the Liberals.

The last party to secure four consecutive elections in Canada was the Liberals back in 2004.

This election outcome represents a significant setback for Poilievre, who centered his campaign on domestic issues and asserted that the Liberals had “broken” the country.

Neither Carney’s nor Poilievre’s team provided immediate comments regarding the forecasts from CTV and CBC.