Mark Carney’s Liberal Party emerged victorious in Monday’s federal election, securing more seats than the Conservative Party in Canada’s 343-member Parliament.
Though it remained unclear whether they had reached the 172-seat threshold required for a majority, the win marked a remarkable political reversal for the Liberals, propelled by a surge of nationalist sentiment in response to aggressive rhetoric from United States President Donald Trump.
Trump’s provocative comments including threats of annexation and economic attacks, ignited a wave of patriotic backlash across Canada, shifting the momentum dramatically in the Liberals’ favor.
The backlash not only rescued a campaign that once appeared doomed but also handed Carney his first electoral win and a fourth consecutive term in power for the party.
Addressing a jubilant crowd in Ottawa, Carney emphasized the importance of national unity and warned of the new geopolitical reality Canada faces.
He declared the long-standing, mutually beneficial post-World War II partnership with the U.S. effectively over.
“We are over the shock of the American betrayal, but we should never forget the lessons,” Carney said.
“As I’ve been warning for months, America wants our land, our resources, our water, our country,” he continued. “These are not idle threats. President Trump is trying to break us so America can own us. That will never, that will never, ever happen. But we also must recognize the reality that our world has fundamentally changed.”
Conservatives Fall Short
The result was a bitter blow for Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, who sought to capitalize on waning public support for former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
With inflation driving up the cost of food and housing, Poilievre positioned himself as the agent of change.
But when Trump’s rhetoric escalated, Trudeau stepped down and Carney — a seasoned former central banker — took the reins of the Liberal Party, altering the race’s trajectory.
Poilievre, speaking at his campaign headquarters with his own parliamentary seat still uncertain, conceded defeat while promising to continue championing everyday Canadians.
“We are cognizant of the fact that we didn’t get over the finish line yet,” he told supporters. “We know that change is needed, but change is hard to come by. It takes time. It takes work. And that’s why we have to learn the lessons of tonight — so that we can have an even better result the next time Canadians decide the future of the country.”
Even as Canadians mourned a deadly attack at a Vancouver festival over the weekend, Trump took to social media on election day, declaring himself “on their ballot” and doubling down on claims that Canada should join the U.S. as its 51st state.
He incorrectly claimed the U.S. subsidizes its northern neighbor, stating, “It makes no sense unless Canada is a State!”
Such taunts from Washington only deepened Canadian frustration. Boycotts of American goods, cancellations of U.S. travel plans, and record early voter turnout — 7.3 million ballots cast before election day — reflected a country rallying in defiance.
“The Americans want to break us so they can own us,” Carney said in the final days of the campaign. “Those aren’t just words. That’s what’s at risk.”
Despite Poilievre’s call for change as he and his wife voted in Ottawa, his embrace of a Trump-inspired tone may have alienated voters.
Toronto resident Reid Warren said he voted Liberal due to the Conservative leader’s resemblance to the American president, “Poilievre sounds like mini-Trump to me,” he said, adding that U.S. tariffs worried him. “Canadians coming together from, you know, all the shade being thrown from the States is great, but it’s definitely created some turmoil, that’s for sure.”
Historian Robert Bothwell observed that Poilievre’s strategy may have backfired.
“The Liberals ought to pay him,” he joked, referring to Trump. “Trump talking is not good for the Conservatives.”
Liberals Face Uncertain Path Forward
Despite the celebration, challenges loom for Carney’s government. Without a clear majority, the Liberals may need to align with a smaller party to maintain control and advance their agenda.
The Bloc Québécois, expected to finish third, remains focused on Quebec independence.
Meanwhile, the New Democratic Party, which previously supported Trudeau’s minority government, suffered major setbacks. Its leader, Jagmeet Singh, announced his resignation after eight years at the helm.
“This is a dramatic comeback, but if the Liberals cannot win a majority of seats, political uncertainty in a new minority Parliament could complicate things for them,” noted McGill political scientist Daniel Béland.
Foreign policy dominated this election cycle more than any time since 1988, when free trade with the U.S. took center stage. Now, Trump’s threats and a souring bilateral relationship have Canadians rethinking their economic and diplomatic ties.
Canada’s reliance on the U.S. as a trading partner remains significant, over 75% of exports flow south of the border. With Trump pushing for car manufacturers to leave Canada, economic fallout looms.
Carney, throughout the campaign, pledged robust responses to U.S. aggression. He committed to redirecting revenue from counter-tariffs into support for Canadian workers impacted by the trade tensions.
Additionally, he promised to maintain the country’s dental care program, deliver a tax cut for the middle class, restore manageable immigration levels, and boost funding for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
