The federal election will be advanced to the end of April, and the Governor of Alberta has issued a warning
Newly elected Liberal Party leader Mark Carney visited the Prime Minister's office on Monday morning to discuss the handover of power with outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Insiders from the Carney team have revealed that the election may be held on April 28th or May 5th.
When entering the conference room, Carney said he was honored to receive 86% support from Liberal Party members on Sunday and looked forward to working with provincial and regional leaders to address the Canada US trade war.
He said in an interview with CTV News, 'There are many things to do, and I am very much looking forward to meeting with the Prime Minister.'.
The former Governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England emphasized during the party leadership campaign that he is the most capable leader to address US President Donald Trump's "America First" agenda and its threat to Canadian sovereignty.
Carney stated that he will soon engage with provincial governors to seek their support and jointly advance Canada's overall strategy to properly address the tense relationship with the United States.
He said, "Provincial governors not only stand up for their own provinces, but also for the entire country. Maintaining good cooperation between the federal government and provincial governments is crucial to safeguarding Canada's interests
Image source: Reuters
Alberta Governor strongly opposes Carney
Alberta Governor Danielle Smith has made it clear that she has no favorable impression of Carney. At the global energy conference held in Houston, she accused Carney of being an enemy of Alberta's oil industry.
Smith said, "Mark Carney pushed for a net zero banking system and spent his entire life opposing the energy industry. He also wrote a book that explicitly stated his goal was to keep fossil fuels underground." However, she hopes that Carney can change his stance. She also called for an immediate general election.
I don't know if he has changed his stance, but he needs to adjust as soon as possible because the world needs more Alberta oil and gas. I hope Canada can hold elections as soon as possible, allowing leaders who have truly gained the people's mandate to deal with the turbulent relationship with the United States
According to insiders from the Carney team, the election may be held on April 28th or May 5th, according to the Global Post.
Government transition and cabinet formation
This week, Carney will mainly focus on forming a new cabinet, which is expected to be sworn in on Thursday or Friday. Former Liberal Party Cabinet Minister Marco Mendicino accompanied Carney into the Prime Minister's office, and according to two sources, he will become Carney's Chief of Staff.
Over the past week, Carney's work has focused on personnel arrangements in the Prime Minister's Office, cabinet selection, government transition, attracting star candidates, and developing campaign platforms to garner support from Canadian voters.
The transition team led by former Secretary General of the Privy Council, Janice Sharrett, is dealing with cabinet size, government briefing updates, ethics declarations, and a list of decisions that the new government needs to make.
Facing the challenge of the Trump administration
Carney will face his first major test on Wednesday - the Trump administration plans to impose a 25% tariff on Canadian steel and aluminum products. Although Carney's official inauguration as prime minister may take place later this week, Trump also plans to impose a 25% tariff on most Canadian imports in early April and an additional 10% tax on energy, key minerals, and potash fertilizers.
Transportation Minister Anita Anand is a close ally of Carney, and she stated that even during Canada's election period, Carney's goal is still to return to the negotiating table and reach an agreement with the United States.
Anand said, "We need to start negotiations as soon as possible to avoid the White House introducing new policies every day that could affect Canada. This requires a leader who can confront the 25% tariff issue and lead the cabinet and caucus members to address it together
According to sources from the Carney team, the prospective prime minister will convey a clear message to the White House that Canada has entered a new phase of governance. Sources say that Carney's strategy is to remain calm, composed, and stable - just like when he led the Bank of Canada during the 2008 global financial crisis, and also like how he dealt with Brexit during his tenure at the Bank of England.
Provincial reactions
Ontario Governor Doug Ford congratulated Kearney on winning the Liberal Party leadership and described his victory as "overwhelming".
On Monday, during a press conference at the Ontario Legislature, Ford stated that he looks forward to discussing major projects, including the development of the "Ring of Fire" mining area, with the new federal leaders.
Ford said, 'The federal government needs to make way and support these national level projects so that we can build a more prosperous and secure Canada.'.
When asked if Carney would announce the election soon, Ford said that based on the information he has, it is expected to be announced within the next 10 to 15 days. He said, 'I won't get involved in this election, but we have some key issues to focus on.'.
Ford reiterated that the "Fire Ring" mining project is a priority for the provincial government and expressed concern that the federal government's environmental assessment may delay project progress. We must ensure that, first and foremost, no federal government obstructs the process, while also providing financial support
He also mentioned that the federal government should support Honda's investment plan in Ontario and provide tax credits for the company's new energy projects.
However, Ford also paid tribute to the outgoing Prime Minister of Trudeau: "We may not always agree, but at critical moments, Prime Minister Trudeau is always willing to put aside partisan and ideological disputes and prioritize national interests
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