During Canada’s election debate, the big question was about who could handle Donald Trump best, according to Prime Minister Mark Carney. His Conservative challenger, Pierre Poilievre, criticized Carney for not offering change, calling him another version of former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Carney responded by emphasizing that the key issue was facing Trump, especially with the ongoing trade war and his threats about making Canada a part of the U.S. This has led to a rise in nationalism, giving Carney’s Liberals a boost in the polls just ahead of the April 28 vote.
Poilievre’s strategy was to focus on making the election a referendum on Trudeau, whose popularity had dropped due to rising costs of living and immigration concerns. But then Trump targeted Trudeau, prompting his resignation and paving the way for Carney, the former Bank of England governor, to step in as the new Liberal leader.
Carney stressed that, unlike his rivals, his focus was on growing the economy to tackle the current crisis. He also pointed out that he had only been PM for a month, so asking for change should not be seen as a flaw.
Poilievre continued to argue that the Liberals represented the same old political figures and didn’t offer real change, while Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-Francois Blanche agreed, claiming a change of leader didn’t change the party itself.
Despite the criticisms, the public opinion has shifted, and the latest polls show the Liberals leading by eight percentage points after trailing significantly in January.
The French-language debate was adjusted to avoid clashing with a Montreal Canadiens hockey game, and the English-language debate is set for Thursday evening.
Canada’s Election Turns Into a Trump Showdown: Who’s Ready to Take Him On?”
