Carney’s Campaign in Quebec

By Promit Mukherjee

TROIS-RIVIERES, Quebec (Reuters) – Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney took his election campaign to Quebec on Tuesday, stating that only he could protect the predominantly French-speaking province from U.S. President Donald Trump.

Polls suggest the ruling Liberals have a narrow lead over the Conservatives ahead of an April 28 election, which Carney describes as one of the most crucial in Canada’s history.

Any party wishing to win power must perform well in Quebec, which has the second-largest number of seats in the House of Commons after Ontario and is home to an independence movement committed to preserving French and local culture.

Trump has imposed tariffs on Canadian imports and has even questioned Canada’s sovereignty:

> “This threat is not only an economic threat, it is an existential threat. To be clear, President Trump is threatening the distinct identity of Quebecers,” Carney remarked at a campaign event in Trois-Rivieres.

Carney emphasized that a strong government is necessary to defend Quebec against Trump, urging voters to support his candidacy to protect their sovereignty.

Trois-Rivieres is one of several key constituencies in Quebec where multiple parties are contesting the vote. In the 2021 election, the separatist Bloc Quebecois won Trois-Rivieres with 29.5% of the vote, narrowly ahead of the Conservatives and Liberals.

Liberal campaign workers believe there are clear signs that Bloc supporters are likely to switch their votes, given their perception of Carney as the best candidate to confront Trump.

A recent Nanos poll reported the Liberals at 42.6% public support nationally, with the Conservatives at 37.1% and the left-leaning New Democrats trailing at 10.4%.

If such trends hold on Election Day, the Libs could achieve a majority of the 343 seats in the House of Commons. The poll, conducted from April 19 to 21, is considered accurate to within 2.7 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

Meanwhile, the Conservatives released their economic plan on Tuesday, highlighting tax cuts and reduced spending. It proposes a budget deficit of C$31.4 billion in 2025-26, lower than the C$42.2 billion forecasted by the government in December.

The Conservatives claim their plan would:
> “reverse the disastrous Liberal record, cut the cost of food and housing, let you keep more of what you earn and kill inflation so your dollar goes further,” as stated in their announcement.

Carney contended that a Liberal government could restore a fiscal surplus within four or five years if their plans are executed effectively. A government mandate spans up to four years.