The 45th federal election campaign in Canadian history kicked off on Sunday under the looming shadow of U.S. President Donald Trump. Major political parties positioned themselves as the best options for change, emphasizing how they would counter American economic aggression and Trump’s threats to Canada’s sovereignty.
Every campaign speech mentioned Trump as leaders outlined their strategies to protect Canada’s economy and independence. Mark Carney, now the Liberal leader after replacing Justin Trudeau, promised immediate action to protect the country from Trump’s tariff threats and potential annexation.
Carney unveiled a $6 billion promise to cut income taxes and introduced a range of policies to accelerate major infrastructure projects like pipelines, high-speed rail, and electricity grids. In his address, he portrayed Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre as a “Canadian Trump,” criticizing him for negativity and lack of constructive solutions.
Poilievre, on the other hand, attacked the Liberals for their handling of crime, rising housing costs, and grocery prices, blaming their failure to approve resource projects for pushing investments into the U.S. He promised to lower taxes and scrap the federal carbon pricing plan, vowing to protect Canada’s sovereignty.
New Democratic Party (NDP) Leader Jagmeet Singh also launched his campaign with sharp critiques of both Carney and Poilievre, painting them as untrustworthy leaders who would fail to protect ordinary Canadians. He promised to prioritize the interests of everyday people over the wealthy elite.
The federal election will run until April 28, and Trump’s influence over the campaign is expected to remain a dominant theme.