Sunday March 23, 2025 | OTTAWA, ON [Reporting from VICTORIA, BC] | Posted at 10:04 am PT
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
The 45th federal election is now officially underway. Election day is Monday April 28.
Today in Ottawa Prime Minister Carney asked the Governor General to dissolve parliament. That meeting took about half an hour.
His comments outside Rideau Hall today, addressing media, focusing on strengthening relationships with Europe and within the Commonwealth (including UK and Australia).
Carney running in an Ottawa riding:
Carney is new to politics. He’s running in Nepean in the Ottawa area. As he is still the prime minister, Carney will during the campaign no doubt have to deal with US President Donald Trump. This will give an even higher profile to the Carney campaign, including on an international level.
Carney won the Liberal leadership contest on March 9. He says a lot of changes have already been done by the Liberals during his short time so far as prime minister.
Standing up to Trump:
Fixing the economy and “fighting the Americans and dealing with Donald Trumps’ tariffs” was part of his opening remarks. About Trump, Carney says: “He wants to break us so America can own us.” Carney wants to “negotiate the best deal for Canadians”.
Trump has to say and accept that Canada is a sovereign country before Canada will negotiate with him, said Carney in a response to media (in French) today.
New trade framework:
“We are stronger together,” said Carney, saying investors need to be rewarded when they success. He wants to establish new trade arrangements with “reliable trading partners”.
All inter-provincial barriers will be dropped by July 1, creating one Canadian economy instead of 13 across the country’s provinces and territories.
This is about “creating a foundation for a stronger Canada”. He is asking for a “strong mandate from fellow Canadians”.
“We have shown the scale of our ambition. Canadians want one Canadian economy, not 13,” said Carney during the media portion of today’s announcement.
Middle class support:
He announced his first campaign promise, to reduce the lowest tax bracket will be cut by 1%. That will give back about $825 for a two-income family per year.
Apparently over 22 million Canadian will “benefit directly from this tax cut and middle- and low-income Canadians will benefit the most”, as stated in a Liberal news release today. This is a different approach than was taken under Trudeau, where tax cuts were not seen or felt by Canadians who weren’t in low-income situations.
Dental care has now been received by 1.8 million Canadians, he pointed out.
Earlier this month Carney announced cancellation of the consumer carbon tax which will help families at the gas pump and heating their homes, but other than a pay-out in April, there is no mention of continuing to rebate low-income Canadians from the carbon tax mechanism.
The Liberals say they are making EI system changes but that’s only for those currently on the EI program (which is only about 40% of Canadian people who work).
Last week Carney announced that the Liberal government will eliminate the GST on all first-time home purchases and substantially renovated homes, with a purchase price of up to $1 million.
Immigration cap:
Carney says his government will maintain the current immigration caps until housing supply has caught up.
===== RELATED:
- Liberal Leader Mark Carney to run in Ottawa-area riding (March 22, 2025)
- Fielding federal candidates in 343 ridings across the country (March 22, 2025)
- 45th federal election to be held on April 28 (March 22, 2025)
- Liberal vision to build ‘one strong economy’ in response to trade war (March 21, 2025)
- Carney & Premiers discuss interprovincial trade, economic infrastructure, more housing & being an energy superpower (March 21, 2025)
- Carney on tariff challenge: do things faster and at a different scale (March 20, 2025)
- Bank of Canada Governor: more uncertainty, tough decisions as trade war escalates (March 20, 2025)
- Jagmeet Singh launches south Vancouver Island NDP campaign office (March 13, 2025)
- NEWS SECTIONS: CANADIAN FEDERAL ELECTION 2025 | CANADA-NATIONAL | CANADA-USA | COUNCIL OF THE FEDERATION