Conservatives Target Trump as Canadian Election Campaign Kicks Off

BRAMPTON, Canada, 25th March 2025 (BSS/AFP) – Canada’s Conservative leader, Pierre Poilievre, asserted on Monday that he is the most formidable candidate to challenge US President Donald Trump, whose threats of annexation and tariffs have undermined the once promising prospects of a Tory-led government.

As campaigning officially began ahead of Canada’s April 28 election, the leading candidates took to the streets, with the race likely to be dominated by Trump’s influence.

Liberal leader and Prime Minister Mark Carney, who succeeded Justin Trudeau earlier this month, was in Newfoundland, where he told Canadians they must now view the United States as “a friendship lost.”

While Trump’s return to politics could have severe economic consequences for Canada, it has unexpectedly benefitted the Liberals, with several polls showing them slightly ahead – a remarkable shift from early January, when the Conservatives were poised for a landslide victory.

Poilievre had garnered significant support as a sharp critic of the unpopular Trudeau government, but the return of Trump and Trudeau’s resignation have forced the Conservatives to adjust their strategy.

Speaking at a packaging plant near Toronto, Poilievre responded to suggestions that Carney was better positioned to confront Trump.

“There’s a reason why Donald Trump wants the weak, out-of-touch Liberals in power. They have handed him control of our economy,” Poilievre remarked, alluding to Trump’s recent comment that he would “rather deal with a liberal” in Canada.

“I know people are scared and feel threatened… Now they face these unjustified threats from President Trump, who frankly needs to knock it off,” he added.

Poilievre pledged to introduce tax cuts to stimulate the economy, enabling Canada to “confront Donald Trump and the Americans from a position of strength.”

Political analysts suggest that Poilievre may need to shift the campaign focus away from Trump-related issues and instead highlight the non-Trump concerns that made the Liberals vulnerable after a decade in power, such as rising housing costs. However, with Trump continuing to dominate Canadian political discourse, Poilievre has increasingly targeted the US president.

For Conservative supporter Valerie Orr, 81, Trump’s influence is counterproductive.

“This threat from the south has diverted too much attention,” she said outside the Poilievre event. “Who ever heard of a state the size of Canada… Come on, be real,” she added, praising Poilievre for concentrating on the everyday struggles of Canadians trying to “make it through the week.”

Friendship ‘Lost,’ ‘Strained’ –

Carney, a former central bank governor in both Canada and England, has sought to position himself as a contrast to Trudeau, focusing on his experience as a crisis manager.

In Gander, a town that hosted thousands of American passengers stranded by the September 11 attacks, Carney said, “Canadians did extraordinary things for Americans when they needed it. Now, we need to do extraordinary things for ourselves.”

“In this crisis caused by the US president and those enabling him, we lament a friendship lost, or at least a friendship strained,” he continued.

In an apparent swipe at Poilievre, whom Liberals accuse of being ideologically aligned with Trump, Carney remarked that the US president is watching to see whether the next Canadian prime minister will be “in sync with him, or someone who will stand up for Canadians.”

Carney, Poilievre, and other party leaders will face off in two debates – one in French and the other in English – on April 16 and 17.

Trump’s actions have significantly impacted Canada, with a series of tariffs imposed, withdrawn, and then reintroduced, causing turmoil in Canadian trade. More tariffs are expected next week, prompting concerns of a trade war that could push Canada into a recession.

The ongoing tariff threats and Trump’s repeated comments about making Canada the 51st US state, coupled with Trudeau’s resignation, have disrupted the political landscape in Canada.

In early January, the Liberals held just 20.1 percent of support, while the Conservatives enjoyed a commanding 44.2 percent, according to aggregated polling data from CBC. As of Monday, the Liberals had gained ground at 37.8 percent, with the Conservatives trailing closely at 37.2 percent.

The data also shows that Carney’s leadership has eroded support for the left-wing New Democrats, with progressives now uncertain whether the party could confront Trump effectively.