Carney Defends Trade Strategy Ahead of Canada Vote \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney used Thursday’s final election debate to promote eliminating internal trade barriers, saying it would deliver greater benefits to Canadians than Trump’s tariffs could ever take away. He criticized Donald Trump’s trade war while vowing to negotiate if reelected. The April 28 vote will determine whether Carney’s Liberals can hold power or if Conservatives under Pierre Poilievre will take over.
Quick Looks
- Mark Carney says ending internal trade barriers will strengthen Canada’s economy.
- PM vows to open trade talks with Trump administration if reelected.
- Carney argues internal unity could offset damage from U.S. tariffs.
- Trump’s policies sparked nationalist sentiment, boosting Liberal support.
- Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre urges voters to reject a fourth Liberal term.
- Carney distances himself from former PM Justin Trudeau.
- Carney became Liberal leader after Trudeau resigned amid political pressure.
- Poilievre promises to repeal “anti-energy” laws, cut taxes, and boost pipelines.
- Latest polls show Liberals have overtaken Conservatives by five points.
- Election day in Canada is set for April 28.
Deep Look
In the last televised debate before Canada heads to the polls on April 28, Prime Minister Mark Carney defended his economic strategy and took direct aim at U.S. President Donald Trump, arguing that dismantling trade barriers within Canada would do more for the national economy than Trump’s trade war could ever damage.
Carney, who assumed leadership of the Liberal Party and the prime minister’s office just last month after the resignation of Justin Trudeau, used the stage to underscore a key campaign promise: achieving internal free trade across Canada’s 10 provinces and three territories by July 1.
“We can give ourselves far more than Donald Trump can ever take away,” Carney said. “We can have one economy. This is within our grasp.”
A Changed U.S.-Canada Relationship
Carney acknowledged that the economic relationship with the United States has been fundamentally altered by Trump’s return to power, citing tariffs, trade restrictions, and inflammatory rhetoric, including threats to annex Canada as the “51st state.”
Despite this, Carney said he plans to initiate formal trade talks with the Trump administration if reelected, noting, “The nature of our relationship with our largest trading partner has changed — and we must adapt.”
Poilievre Pushes for Change After Liberal Decade
Opposition Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre argued that Canada cannot afford a fourth term under Liberal leadership, warning of continued rising costs of housing, food, and uncontrolled immigration.
“You can’t solve the housing crisis with the same people who created it,” Poilievre said. “We can’t afford a fourth Liberal term of rising housing costs.”
Poilievre attempted to frame the election as a referendum on Justin Trudeau, whom he had campaigned against for years. But Carney, who is widely viewed as more technocratic and less ideological than Trudeau, quickly sought to shift that narrative.
“It may be difficult, Mr. Poilievre — you spent years running against Justin Trudeau and the carbon tax. But they are both gone,” Carney quipped. “I am a very different person than Justin Trudeau.”
Energy, Pipelines, and the Economic Divide
In a pointed exchange, Poilievre accused the Liberals of hostility toward Canada’s energy sector, saying the party had suffocated pipeline development and undermined national prosperity.
He pledged that a Conservative government would repeal what he called “anti-energy laws,” eliminate bureaucratic red tape, and lower taxes to stimulate investment and resource development.
Carney defended his record, countering that a modern economy must focus on energy transition and innovation rather than doubling down on fossil fuels.
Surging Poll Numbers for Liberals
The debate came amid a dramatic shift in public opinion. A Nanos Research poll released Thursday showed the Liberals now leading the Conservatives by 5 percentage points, a major reversal from mid-January, when they trailed by 27 points.
Political analysts attribute the surge in part to Trump’s return and the nationalistic backlash it sparked among Canadian voters. The election’s outcome now hinges on whether Carney can maintain this momentum through election day.
What’s Next
With less than two weeks to go, both parties are intensifying their efforts. Carney is expected to focus on economic unity and cross-provincial cooperation, while Poilievre continues hammering away on the cost of living and Liberal legacy.
Canadians are watching closely — not just to see who will lead them next, but how their nation will navigate a volatile relationship with Washington and an uncertain global economy.
Carney Defends Trade Carney Defends Trade
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