Canada: Liberal Party Triumphs in Elections Amid Trump’s Threats

The ruling Liberal Party, led by Mark Carney, has emerged victorious in Canada’s parliamentary elections held on Monday (28.4.25). These elections were heavily overshadowed by a series of threats from U.S. President Donald Trump. It remains unclear whether the Liberals will form a majority government (requiring 172 seats) or a minority one, with Canadian TV network CTV predicting the latter. The Liberals secured 168 seats against the Conservatives’ 144. In his victory speech, Carney stated, “Trump is trying to break us so the U.S. can control us; this will never happen.” Just months ago, it seemed the Conservatives, under Pierre Poilievre, were poised to regain power after Justin Trudeau’s decade-long tenure. However, Trump’s return to the White House and his unprecedented attacks on Canada—from imposing tariffs to threatening annexation as the ’51st state’—dramatically altered the landscape. In Ottawa, where Liberals gathered for election night, the announcement of early results sparked enthusiastic cheers. Former Justice Minister David Lametti expressed optimism about securing enough seats for a majority government, though that prospect dimmed as the night progressed. Minority governments in Canada rarely last more than two years, making coalition-building challenging. At 60 years old, Mark Carney, a political newcomer but experienced central banker, focused his campaign on reassuring Canadians worried about their economy and national sovereignty. Previously managing central banks in Canada and Britain, Carney repeatedly emphasized during the campaign that American threats are real, warning, “They want our resources, our water—the Americans want our country.” With lives thrown into chaos, resisting Trump became the election’s key issue. The Prime Minister promised to maintain Canadian tariffs on American goods while promoting domestic trade and seeking new export markets, particularly in Europe. Meanwhile, Conservative candidate Poilievre pledged tax cuts and spending reductions, failing to sway voters in this G7 member nation, the world’s 9th largest economy. Analysts noted Poilievre paid dearly for aligning too closely with Trump both ideologically and stylistically, alienating part of the electorate. Nearly 29 million eligible voters participated across Canada’s vast six time zones, setting record pre-election turnout at 7.3 million votes.