CANADIAN Prime Minister Mark Carney declared victory in the federal election on Tuesday. He said he looks forward to working with all parties in parliament and plans to meet with US President Donald Trump to discuss future economic and security relations between the two countries.
Carney secured a fourth consecutive term for the Liberals, a rare achievement in Canadian politics. He convinced voters that his experience handling economic crises made him ready to face President Trump.
Carney, 60, had never held elected office before replacing Justin Trudeau as prime minister last month. His campaign focused on an anti-Trump message and his global financial experience from serving as central bank governor in both Britain and Canada. Carney promised to expand trade relations beyond the United States to reduce Canada’s reliance on its neighbour.
Trudeau’s departure also played a key role in the Liberals’ win, marking a dramatic political turnaround in Canada.
Early results from Canada’s 2025 federal election show a close race between the ruling Liberals and the opposition Conservatives, with a record 7.3 million people casting ballots ahead of polling day. Voting has now closed in Atlantic Canada.
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal Party is projected to win the election and form the next government, according to Canadian public broadcaster CBC News. The Liberals are on track to secure more seats in the 343-member House of Commons than the Conservatives, although it remains unclear whether they will gain an outright majority.
A party needs 172 seats to hold a majority in the House of Commons. Early counting trends signal a major political turnaround for the Liberals, who were previously seen as likely to lose. That changed after US President Donald Trump’s recent threats of annexation and a trade war with Canada sparked a wave of nationalist sentiment.
Trump’s comments — including a suggestion that Canada should become the 51st US state — anger Canadian voters and shift momentum toward the governing party, putting it in position for a fourth straight term.
Record turnout in advance voting
Polling stations open across Canada on Tuesday, with the last set to close at 10 pm EDT (7:30 AM IST). Although polls tighten in recent weeks, initial results show the Liberals maintaining a slight edge.
Under Canada’s “first-past-the-post” electoral system, winning individual districts is more critical than the overall popular vote. Elections Canada reports that 7.3 million people voted early — the highest advance turnout in Canadian history, out of 28.9 million eligible voters. Prime Minister Carney, a former central bank governor and political newcomer, seeks to distinguish his leadership from that of his predecessor, Justin Trudeau.
Trump’s influence on Canadian voters
Donald Trump plays a central role in the campaign’s final stretch. His announcement of a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian-made cars, along with threats to “economically force” Canada into becoming the 51st state, trigger a surge of patriotic backlash.
On election day, Trump posts on social-media, “Good luck to the Great people of Canada,” urging them to elect leaders open to closer ties with the US.
He claims Canada could slash taxes, grow industries, and eliminate tariffs if it became part of the US. “No more artificially drawn line from many years ago,” he adds. These remarks appear to energise Canadian voters and help rally support for Carney, pushing the Liberals ahead as vote counting continues.
