Canada election 2025: Mark Carney vs Pierre Poilievre - Unknown facts about Liberal and Conservative Party leaders fighting for PM's post

As Canada heads to the polls on April 28, all eyes will be on Mark Carney and Pierre Poilievre. With U.S. tariffs and Donald Trump’s threats looming large, the race for prime minister has become more than just a domestic affair. Voters are now deciding who will lead them through a growing international crisis.

Canada's election pits Liberal Mark Carney, a finance industry veteran, against Conservative Pierre Poilievre, a seasoned politician. With the talk of annexation roiling the country, the election has become a test of leadership under duress. Economic uncertainty and rising living costs have made this one of Canada's most important elections.

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The front-runners are Carney's Liberal Party and Poilievre's Conservative Party, but there will also be other significant political parties on the ballot, such as the Green Party, the Bloc Québécois, which is based only in Quebec, and the left-leaning New Democratic Party (NDP), which is led by Jagmeet Singh, as per a report by CNN.

What sets Mark Carney and Pierre Poilievre apart?

Though he has been working to strengthen his relationships with more "reliable" allies, Mark Carney, a political novice, has not ruled out further discussions with Donald Trump.

Unusually, he travelled to Europe for his first foreign trip as prime minister, where he discussed strengthening military, economic, and security ties with French and British officials, as quoted in a report by CNN.

Despite being a new politician, Carney has decades of experience in finance, which allowed him to guide governments through significant international crises and turbulent times.

Carney stated earlier this month that they would unite and act decisively and forcefully in times of crisis, positioning himself as the candidate to challenge the US president.

He guided the UK through Brexit while serving as governor of the Bank of England, which he claimed mirrored what might happen to the US when tariffs are imposed.

According to experts, many Canadians believe Carney is in a good position to handle a trade war with a longstanding ally.

Poilievre, a career politician who was a cabinet member in the Conservative government of former Prime Minister Stephen Harper, has seen his rise slowed by tensions with the United States, as per a report by CNN.

He has positioned himself as a family man and as someone outside of the "Ottawa elite" in an effort to appeal to working-class Canadians throughout his campaign.

Poilievre has gained supporters who are fed up with Liberal rule thanks to his fiery rhetoric about cutting taxes and bureaucracy and his populist "Canada First" policy.

However, Poilievre now seems to be avoiding comparisons to US President Donald Trump; he has repeatedly stated that he is "not MAGA," criticized Trump's threats to make Canada the 51st US state, and backed reciprocal tariffs.

Charles-Etienne Beaudry, a professor of political science at the University of Ottawa, says that he differs from Trump due to his decades of political experience and humble upbringing as the son of two teachers.

According to experts, the main reason Carney's lead over Poilievre has grown is that the former banker has spoken out more than his rival about the specifics of Canada's plans to establish trade relations with other nations and impose retaliatory tariffs.

How has Donald Trump changed Canada’s election?

The race has changed significantly as a result of Trump's high tariffs on Canada and threats to its sovereignty.

Canadian businesses have been rocked by Trump's decision to impose a 25% duty on Canadian steel and aluminum, automobiles and auto parts, and his threats to impose tariffs on lumber and pharmaceuticals.

The economist Morck notes the degree of mistrust and anti-American sentiment among Canadians and expects that “voters are going to vote for the candidate that they think will minimise the cost of the trade war with the US.”

The high cost of living is another issue facing Canadians, particularly the shortage of affordable housing, which is likely to be exacerbated by a trade war with the US. For instance, auto tariffs imposed by the US and Canada will raise the cost of cars on both sides of the border.

This election can ultimately be about who Canadians trust to guide Canada through a global economic tempest.

FAQs

Who is running for Prime Minister in 2025?
Liberal Mark Carney and Conservative Pierre Poilievre are the leading candidates.

What has changed the tone of this election?
U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs and threats against Canada have elevated trade and sovereignty to the top of the election agenda.