New Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and his Conservative Party opponent kicked off their election campaigns on Sunday against the backdrop of a trade war and annexation threats from US President Donald Trump.
Carney announced there will be a five-week election campaign before the vote on April 28.
The governing Liberals had appeared poised for a historic election defeat this year until Trump declared a trade war. Trump has repeatedly said Canada should become the 51st US state and he acknowledged on Friday that he has upended Canadian politics.
Trump’s almost daily attacks on Canada’s sovereignty have infuriated Canadians and led to a surge in Canadian nationalism that has bolstered Liberal poll numbers.
“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,” Carney said.
The governing Liberals had appeared poised for a historic election defeat this year until Trump declared a trade war. Carney has said the government in a time of crisis needs a strong and clear mandate.
