Canadian PM’s campaign kicks off with warning on US president’s “annexation” agenda

Mark Carney, Canada’s newly sworn-in prime minister, launched his election campaign with a stark warning about US President Donald Trump’s ambitions toward Canada.

Speaking in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Carney asserted that Trump is serious about annexing Canada, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

“Donald Trump wants to break us so America can own us,” Carney told hundreds of Liberal Party supporters. “It is our strength that the Americans want,” he added, emphasizing the desire for Canada’s resources, water, and land. Carney stressed, “They can’t have it.”

The former central banker and Goldman Sachs executive framed the upcoming election as “the most consequential election of our lifetimes.” He portrayed Trump’s trade war and annexation rhetoric as key issues, claiming that his Conservative Party opponent, Pierre Poilievre, is a Trump ally. A Liberal ad depicted Poilievre using Trump’s signature phrases like “fake news” and “radical leftist.”

Carney’s campaign, which began shortly after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation in January, has seen a remarkable turnaround in support, particularly in Atlantic Canada. The Liberals, once trailing by 20 points, now lead by the same margin. The party hopes to build on this momentum as it heads into the April 28 election.

Carney will visit Gander, Newfoundland, to highlight Canada-US cooperation, stressing how Trump’s threats are undermining longstanding ties between the nations. Carney criticized Poilievre’s stance, claiming his Conservative agenda fails to address broader threats from the US.

However, polls suggest a close race between the Liberals and Conservatives, with Poilievre maintaining strong support for his economic platform. Poilievre, whose new slogan is “Canada First,” has promised to prioritize economic growth and reduce reliance on US trade.

Political analysts, including Frederic Boily from the University of Alberta, caution Poilievre to balance his focus on US threats with more immediate domestic issues, such as housing affordability. Meanwhile, Carney’s lack of political experience may make him vulnerable as the campaign progresses.

By Vafa Guliyeva