TORONTO — Prime Minister Mark Carney emphasized on Thursday the significant benefits Canadians could gain from dismantling internal trade barriers, suggesting these would outweigh any losses caused by U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade policies. As he prepared for the April 28 election, this was central to his appeal for reelection. Carney aims to achieve unrestricted trade across Canada’s 10 provinces and three territories by July 1, addressing the long-standing issue of interprovincial trade restrictions.
“We have the opportunity to enrich ourselves beyond anything Trump could diminish,” Carney argued. “We can unify into a single, seamless economy. The potential is within reach.” Carney pointed out that Trump’s tariffs have altered the decades-long economic relationship between Canada and the United States. Should Carney secure another term, he intends to promptly engage in trade negotiations with the Trump administration.
“We are confronted by an unprecedented crisis. Trump is attempting to drastically alter the global economy and trading structure, ultimately seeking to overtake us to gain control over our resources and territory,” Carney declared in his concluding remarks. “I possess the experience of crisis management needed to confront this… We will counteract with tariffs and shield our workforce.”
Trump’s trade war rhetoric has angered Canadians, sparking a rise in nationalistic feelings that have buoyed the Liberal Party’s position in polls. Opposition leader, Pierre Poilievre of the Conservative Party, is urging Canadians to prevent a fourth successive Liberal government. He aimed to frame the election as a referendum on Justin Trudeau, whose approval faltered in his final years as leader due to rising food and housing prices, alongside increased immigration.
Trudeau’s departure amidst Trump’s aggression saw Carney, a former central banker on two occasions, ascend as the Liberal party leader and prime minister following an internal leadership contest.
“It might surprise you, Mr. Poilievre, you’ve spent years campaigning against Justin Trudeau and the carbon tax—both are no longer in play,” Carney remarked. “I am distinctly different from Justin Trudeau.”
Public opinion has notably shifted. A mid-January survey by Nanos showed the Liberals trailing the Conservatives, 47% to 20%. However, by Thursday’s latest poll, the Liberals had gained a 5-point lead. The previous poll had a 3.1-point error margin, while the latest was at 2.7 points.
“We cannot endure another Liberal tenure with escalating housing costs,” Poilievre stated. He accused the Liberals of being adversarial to Canada’s energy industry and pipelines, asserting that their policies have weakened the economy. Poilievre promised that a Conservative administration would dismantle “anti-energy legislations, bureaucratic regulations, and high taxes.”
“You are not the change we require,” Poilievre retorted during a debate exchange.