Just hours left before PM Carney is expected to trigger a federal election

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh speaks in Ottawa on January 22, 2025, left to right, Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks in Ottawa on March 14, 2025, and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre speaks with media in Ottawa on Monday, Mar 10, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang, Adrian Wyld.

OTTAWA — Canada’s main federal party leaders shifted into campaign mode a day ahead of an expected election call, spending Saturday gearing up for the impending race and trying to position themselves as the best option to lead Canada through a trade war with the United States.

Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to ask Gov. Gen. Mary Simon to dissolve Parliament on Sunday and call for an election, with a vote to take place at the end of April or early May.

That election call means the House of Commons won’t return to work Monday as scheduled.

The election comes as U.S. President Donald Trump continues to threaten Canada’s sovereignty and pursues a trade war by levying steep tariffs on Canadian goods.

Canada has fought back with retaliatory tariffs, and one of the key ballot questions is certain to be which party, and party leader, is best equipped to confront Trump’s aggressive trade agenda.

Justin Trudeau’s resignation as Liberal leader and prime minister, his replacement by Carney and Trump’s return to the White House have upended the Canadian political scene -- largely eliminating the substantial polling lead the Conservatives enjoyed as recently as January and compelling Carney, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to adjust their messaging.

The government has made a flurry of announcements in recent days with the election looming.

Carney emerged from a meeting with premiers in Ottawa on Friday with an agreement to develop a national trade corridor to better move energy and critical minerals.

On Saturday, the Liberals announced that as of May, all eligible Canadians will be able to apply for the party’s cornerstone dental care program. The program was launched initially for seniors in December 2023 and has been expanded in phases to cover children and people with disabilities.

The federal Conservatives have not said whether they would keep funding the program, which was the product of a supply-and-confidence agreement between the Liberals and the NDP.

Minister of Indigenous Services Patty Hajdu also announced funding will be continued through 2026 for Jordan’s Principle, which attempts to ensure First Nations children have equal access to government-funded services.

The Conservative have had a flurry of policy proposals of their own in recent days.

Poilievre has pledged a boost in training and employment for workers in the skilled trades. The plan would see the federal government offer apprenticeship grants of up to $4,000 and work with provinces to harmonize health and safety regulations to allow tradespeople to work anywhere in Canada.

He has also made promises in recent days about pre-approved construction permits for major resource or energy projects, as well as better access to northern Ontario’s lucrative Ring of Fire region.

Poilievre held a campaign-style event at an Orleans coffee-shop in Ottawa’s east end Saturday morning.

He served some baked goods from behind the counter and, while meeting with a business owner, spoke of “getting rid of excess tax increases.”

Meeting with a father and his 35-year-old son who lives in the basement of the family home, Poilievre referenced his party’s promise to cut the GST on new home purchases.

“Build, build, build, build, so you have a place to live,” the leader said.

Later Saturday morning Poilievre visited a fitness gym in central Ottawa.

Peter Morel, the gym’s managing partner, presented Poilievre with a Canadian flag signed by Canadian athletes who participated in the Invictus Games in B.C., earlier this year.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 22, 2025.