Trump’s Tariffs, Economic Risks Dominate Canadian Election Talk as Carney Steps Up Attacks

Ottawa, April 17, 2025: With just days left before Canadians head to the polls, Prime Minister Mark Carney has zeroed in on U.S. President Donald Trump as the defining issue of the 2025 federal election. In a fiery French-language debate held in Montreal, Carney asked voters to consider who is best prepared to face the economic and diplomatic turbulence stirred by Trump’s tariff-heavy agenda.

Carney, who took over Liberal leadership earlier this year after Justin Trudeau stepped down, has portrayed himself as the steady hand needed to defend Canada’s economy. He used the debate platform to highlight his credentials as a former Bank of Canada governor, claiming only strong, experienced leadership could shield the country from the fallout of a growing global trade war.

“Who is going to face Mr. Trump?” Carney asked rhetorically, framing the election not just as a domestic decision, but as a referendum on how Canada should handle its southern neighbor.

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre fired back, branding Carney as Trudeau’s shadow and pushing his own message of change. But with the Liberals now leading in polls by eight percentage points, Carney’s narrative appears to be resonating—especially in the wake of economic warnings from the Bank of Canada.

Just days ago, Governor Tiff Macklem announced a pause in interest rate cuts, citing economic uncertainty triggered by Trump’s aggressive trade moves. The Bank has even modeled a worst-case scenario: a deep recession and soaring inflation if the trade war drags on.

The fallout from Trump’s tariffs—initially slapped on Canada and Mexico, then extended globally—has already shaken consumer spending and job markets. Business investment is down, and Carney is leveraging those signals to reinforce his central campaign message: only the Liberals can steer Canada through this storm.

An English-language debate is slated for Thursday night, offering another stage for leaders to pitch their strategy for handling Trump-era unpredictability. As Canadians weigh their choices, the country’s relationship with the U.S. has never felt more like a domestic concern.