Mark Carney’s Liberal Party Wins Canada Election in Stunning Turnaround Fueled by Trump Threats

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal Party won Canada’s federal election on Monday, but fell short of the majority government he had wanted to help him negotiate tariffs with US President Donald Trump .

Carney had promised a tough approach with Washington over its import tariffs and said Canada would need to spend billions to reduce its reliance on the US. But the right-of-center Conservatives, who called for change after more than nine years of Liberal rule, showed unexpected strength.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also congratulated Carney for the stunning win.

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre conceded defeat to Carney's Liberals and said his party would hold the minority government to account.

Trump's Threats Ignited a Wave of Patriotism

The Liberals looked headed for a crushing defeat until the American president started attacking Canada’s economy and threatening its sovereignty, suggesting it should become the 51st state. Trump’s actions infuriated Canadians and stoked a surge in nationalism that helped the Liberals flip the election narrative and win a fourth-straight term in power.

“We were dead and buried in December. Now we are going to form a government,” David Lametti, a former Liberal Justice Minister, told broadcaster CTV.

“We have turned this around thanks to Mark,” he said

Also Read - 'He's The Greatest Risk': Canada PM Mark Carney on Donald Trump 

Even with Canadians grappling with the fallout from a deadly weekend attack at a Vancouver street festival, Trump was trolling them on election day, suggesting on social media that he was on their ballot and repeating that Canada should become the 51st state. He also erroneously claimed that the U.S. subsidizes Canada, writing, “It makes no sense unless Canada is a State!”

Tensions with the US have caused supporters of two smaller parties, the left-leaning New Democratic Party and the separatist Bloc Quebecois, to shift to the Liberals. NDP leader Jagmeet Singh conceded defeat in his own district and said he planned to quit as party leader.

Carney has emphasized that his experience handling economic issues makes him the best leader to deal with Trump, while Poilievre tapped into concerns about the cost of living, crime and a housing crisis. 

Trudeau’s Exit Left Leadership Vacuum

After nearly a decade at the helm, Justin Trudeau stepped down as Prime Minister in January, citing internal party friction and declining public support. His decision came at a time when concerns were rising over former U.S. President Donald Trump ’s aggressive rhetoric, including threats of imposing tariffs and even suggesting the annexation of Canada.

Trudeau’s resignation triggered a leadership race within the Liberal Party, resulting in the appointment of Mark Carney — a former governor of both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England — as Prime Minister. However, Carney faced immediate challenges, as he did not hold a seat in the House of Commons, making him an easy target for political rivals.

Within just nine days of taking office, Carney announced snap elections, seeking a fresh mandate from the people.

Understanding Canada's Election System

Canada follows a parliamentary system where voters elect representatives from 343 constituencies, known as ridings. The party that secures at least 172 seats will be in a position to form a majority government. Falling short would mean a minority government, necessitating alliances or understandings with smaller parties.

This election also marks an expansion, with five new ridings added since the 2021 polls to reflect Canada’s growing population. Elections Canada, the independent body overseeing the process, will conduct manual counting of votes, with results expected within 30 minutes after polling closes.