Carney triggered the election the day before Parliament was scheduled to be recalled after being prorogued on Jan. 6
Prime Minister Mark Carney visited Gov. Gen. Mary Simon on March 23 and asked for the dissolution of Parliament, triggering a snap federal election for April 28.
Carney announced the election the day before Parliament was scheduled to be recalled after being prorogued on Jan. 6 by his predecessor Justin Trudeau.
If proceedings in the House of Commons had resumed, the minority Liberal government could have faced a non-confidence vote, which would also have led to an early election.
Carney, who was sworn in as prime minister on March 14 after winning the Liberal leadership race, is going into the election at a time when the Liberals have had a significant rebound in the polls.
Since Trudeau announced he would resign at the beginning of the year, and with the trade tensions with the United States heating up, the Liberals have closed the 20-point gap in voters’ intentions with the Conservatives.
Over a year and a half of faring poorly in the polls, coupled with key byelection losses last year, had indicated that the Liberals would face certain electoral defeat. Now, however, the race is projected to be tight.
A recent Nanos poll published on March 20 puts the support for Conservatives at 35 percent, and for the Liberals at 34 percent. The poll shows support for the NDP to be at 16 percent. Some other polls show the Liberals to be leading.
The latest Léger poll published on March 17 gives 42 percent to Carney’s Grits, compared to 39 percent for Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s Tories. This was the first time since early 2023 that Léger had the Liberals ahead of the Conservatives.
A recent Nanos poll published on March 20 puts the support for Conservatives at 35 percent, and for the Liberals at 34 percent. The poll shows support for the NDP to be at 16 percent. Some other polls show the Liberals to be leading.
The latest Léger poll published on March 17 gives 42 percent to Carney’s Grits, compared to 39 percent for Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s Tories. This was the first time since early 2023 that Léger had the Liberals ahead of the Conservatives.
By Matthew Horwood
