Is Mark Carney considering a snap spring election? 'Of course we're not,' he says

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney said his government is not considering a federal election this spring as Parliament resumed on Monday.

“Of course we’re not,” he said, when asked by a reporter if he was thinking about going to the polls during a press conference in Ottawa. “We’re focused on results for Canadians.”

Carney made his comments during an affordability announcement at a grocery store in Ottawa, where his government announced a boost to the GST credit. Quarterly GST payments will see an increase of 25 per cent over the next five years and there will be a one-time top-up of 50 per cent this June.

“We have the privilege of a mandate from Canadians, ” Carney added. “We were very clear, when we ran in the last election, on what we intended to do, very detailed platform and we are delivering on that.”

Carney’s government remains in a minority Parliament, at just 170 seats, the Liberals are still two seats away from a majority.

Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon also attempted to shut down any notion that Liberals were angling for a snap election.

“I think this Parliament can work,” he told reporters on Monday. “I think Canadians expressed themselves only last April.”

In a letter addressed to Carney last week, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said his party would be willing to work with the Liberals to fast-track key legislative priorities, including trade deals, approval of major projects, bail reform and affordability measures.

MacKinnon also called on the Opposition Conservatives to support the government in helping pass its agenda.

“Mr. Poilievre has to get out of the way and allow his MPs to vote on an ambitious crime-fighting agenda, to vote on a plan to grow our economy and to vote on a plan to make life more affordable to Canadians,” he said.

So far, the Liberal government has only been able to pass four pieces of legislation through the House of Commons.

Despite Parliament resuming after a seven-week break, Carney will not be in attendance for Question Period. Instead, Carney is set to meet with Ontario Premier Doug Ford in Toronto.

Last week, Ford expressed his disappointment with Carney’s recent agreement with China, that would allow 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles at a 6.1 per cent duty rate into the Canadian market, in exchange for China’s lowering of tariffs on Canadian canola and seafood exports. 

Ford said “so much for the partnership” upon learning about the deal just hours before it was announced. 

Carney’s agreement with China is also facing pushback from United States President Donald Trump, who threatened a 100-per cent tariff on all Canadian exports on Saturday, if Canada made a trade deal with China.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump referred to Carney as “Governor Carney” and said China “will eat Canada alive, completely devour it, including the destruction of their businesses, social fabric, and general way of life.”

In response, Carney said there was no pursuit of a free trade deal with China, which would require notice to other trade partners under the Canada-United-States-Mexico-Agreement (CUSMA).

Carney said the upcoming review of the North American trade pact could be playing a part in the president’s recent comments.

“It’s the expectation the president is a strong negotiator,” said Carney. “I think some of these comments and positioning should be viewed in the broader context.”

More to come.

With files from Stephanie Taylor

National Post

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