Canada PM Mark Carney calls snap election, asks for mandate to tackle Donald Trump: ‘We are facing significant crisis’

Asking for mandate to tackle US President Donald Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Sunday called a snap election for April 28.

Carney said that he needed a strong mandate to deal with the threat that Trump's tariffs pose to the economy.

"We are facing the most significant crisis of our lifetimes because of President Trump's unjustified trade actions and his threats to our sovereignty," reported Reuters quoting Carney.

Carney made the remark while speaking to media after the Governor General — the personal representative of King Charles, Canada's head of state — approved his request for an election.

He announced that there will be a five-week election campaign before the vote on April 28.

President Trump has repeatedly said that Canada should become the 51st US state, and often mocked Carney's predecessor, Justin Trudeau, by calling him Governor Trudeau. However, he has not yet mentioned Carney's name.

Here's what Mark Carney said

— There is so much more to do to secure Canada. To invest in Canada, to build Canada, to unite Canada. That's why I'm asking for a strong positive mandate from my fellow Canadians.

— President Trump claims that Canada isn't a real country. He wants to break us so America can own us. We will not let that happen.

— I've just requested that the Governor General dissolve Parliament and call an election for April 28th, and she has agreed.

“I have just asked the Governor General to dissolve Parliament and call a federal election on April 28. We need to build the strongest economy in the G7. We need to deal with President Trump’s tariffs. Canadians deserve a choice about who should lead that effort for our country,” said Carney in a post on X.

Who is Mark Carney?

Mark Carney is Canada’s 24th Prime Minister. He was sworn-in on March 15. He succeeded Justin Trudeau, who had a combative and often cold relationship with Trump.

The 30th Canadian Ministry consists of a total of 23 ministers, in addition to the Prime Minister.

He is a former two-time central banker with no previous political or election campaign experience, captured the Liberal leadership two weeks ago by persuading party members he was the best person to tackle Trump.

The house

Canadians will elect 343 members of parliament to the House of Commons. Seats are won based on the first-past-the-post system.

If a party wins 172 seats, they secure a majority government. If no individual party wins a majority, the party with the most seats is typically given the chance to form a government, which requires having "the confidence of the house."