Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal Party will form a minority government after an election race dominated by concerns over United States President Donald Trump’s statements against Canada.
With nearly all votes counted late on Tuesday, the Liberals had won 169 seats in the 343-member House of Commons, falling just short of a majority.
The main opposition Conservative Party, led by Pierre Poilievre, won 144 seats.
The Liberals’ victory gives them a fourth consecutive term, a substantial turnaround for a party that had been trailing the Conservatives by as much as 25 percent as recently as January.
After two years of unfavorable polling for the Liberals, Trump’s decision to impose tariffs on Canadian goods coupled with the Republican leader’s repeated references to making Canada the 51st US state helped rally many Canadian voters behind the incumbent government.
The resignation of Carney’s predecessor, former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, also helped the party regain support after Trudeau faced months of widespread criticism for his government’s handling of a housing crisis and other affordability issues.
In a statement on Tuesday afternoon, Carney said he had spoken to Trump and that the US president acknowledged his victory.
The leaders agreed on the importance of Canada and the United States working together as independent, sovereign nations for their mutual benefit. To that end, the leaders agreed to meet in person in the near future, according to the statement from Carney’s office.
With a minority government, the Liberals will need the support of an opposition party to pass legislation and survive no-confidence votes in parliament.
The left-leaning New Democratic Party (NDP), which had until late last year been supporting the Trudeau government, appears positioned to play that role.
The NDP won seven seats in Monday’s elections – enough to push the Liberals past the 172-seat threshold needed in the House of Commons.
During his address after Monday’s vote, Carney urged Canadians to remain unified in response to Trump’s statements.
America wants our land, our resources, our water, our country, he said. President Trump is attempting to divide us so that America can possess us; that will never happen.
Meanwhile, Poilievre acknowledged Carney on his victory and said his party would fulfill their responsibility to hold the government accountable.
Poilievre, who lost his seat in Ottawa, had been widely anticipated to be Canada’s next prime minister before Trump’s comments and the Liberal Party leadership changes altered the course of the race.
Canadian political analysts note that this election represents a significant moment in Canada-US relations, with diplomatic challenges likely ahead. Economic experts predict potential negotiations regarding tariffs and trade agreements will be central to discussions between the two nations in coming months.
Voter turnout reached approximately 68 percent, demonstrating heightened public interest in this consequential election. Regional variations showed stronger Liberal support in urban centers, while Conservative backing remained solid in western provinces.
The financial markets responded with moderate stability following the election results, with the Canadian dollar maintaining its position against major currencies including the US dollar.
