International Desk
24 March
Sandeep Dhand
Journalist & Research Analysist
Canada’s new Prime Minister, Mark Carney, and Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre have urged U.S. President Donald Trump to respect Canada’s sovereignty. Their statements come amid rising tensions over Trump’s trade war and remarks suggesting Canada could become part of the U.S.
Carney, who took office on March 14, replacing Justin Trudeau, warned that Trump’s trade policies threaten Canada’s economy. Trump has imposed a 25% tax on Canadian steel and aluminum and plans further tariffs on Canadian goods starting April 2.
Speaking on Sunday, Carney said, “President Trump’s unfair trade measures and threats to our sovereignty pose one of the biggest crises of our lifetime. He claims Canada is not a real country and wants to break us apart to make us part of the U.S. But we won’t let that happen.”
Carney announced a five-week election campaign leading up to April 28, as he runs for a parliamentary seat in Nepean, Ottawa. The election will decide control of the House of Commons, which has 343 seats.
Polls earlier predicted a Liberal Party defeat, but Trump’s actions have changed the political landscape. Some analysts now believe Carney’s strong stance against Trump could boost Liberal support.
Poilievre, Carney’s main election rival, also criticized Trump’s tariffs. “I will stand up to President Trump and demand that he respects Canada’s independence. He must stop these unfair taxes,” he said. “Canadians are worried, angry, and anxious.”
With tensions rising, the upcoming election is expected to be a heated battle, as both leaders promise to defend Canada’s sovereignty against external pressures.