EDMONTON—Canadians headed to the polls on Monday in a pivotal election after a campaign shaped in part by U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs and repeated calls to make Canada the 51st U.S. state.
What began as a contest focused on affordability, housing, and crime evolved into a campaign dominated by questions of sovereignty and patriotism after Trump repeatedly suggested annexing Canada and threatened sweeping tariffs on Canadian goods.
The late-stage shift in focus appeared to boost Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney, a political newcomer but a seasoned economic manager who once led Canada’s central bank and the Bank of England. Carney cast the election as a battle to defend Canadian independence, portraying Trump’s threats as a serious warning for the country’s future….