Mark Carney will return to the Canadian parliament with a strengthened mandate, after his Liberal Party triumphed in a snap election that he called soon after becoming prime minister. Although one of his most pressing tasks is to deal with his US counterpart President Donald Trump - who has targeted Canada with trade tariffs and even vowed to make the country the 51st state of America - Carney has also promised action on a range of domestic issues. 1. Double home-building rates In his victory speech in the early hours of Tuesday, Carney pledged to "build, baby, build" - an apparent nod to Trump's pledges on oil drilling. "It's time to build twice as many homes every year with an entirely new housing industry using Canadian technology, Canadian skilled workers, Canadian lumber," Carney told supporters. Housing prices have skyrocketed across the country in the last decade. By doubling the rate of building, Carney hopes to have a supply of 500,000 new homes a year. The Liberals want to create a standalone federal entity that would act as a developer for affordable housing. They plan to use this body to supply tens of billions of Canadian dollars in debt-financing for prefabricated home builders. In his first news conference on Friday, Carney said his government "will address failures in the housing market head on", including by developing a modular and prefabricated housing industry. 2. Ease cost of living Like people in other countries, Canadians have been grappling with higher prices for everyday goods while wages have failed to keep up - an issue over which Carney's party was criticised while under the stewardship of his predecessor Justin Trudeau. The Liberals have proposed a slight tax cut for those in the lowest bracket, who are due to see their rate reduce from 15% to 14%. Carney's party has also vowed to scrap sales taxes on homes under C$1m ($720,000; £540,000) for first-time buyers. It also wants to make dental care available to lower-income Canadians by extending a national insurance programme to 4.5 million people aged 18 to 64. The plan currently covers children, the elderly and some disabled Canadians. The Liberals will also cap the number of temporary workers and international students allowed into the country to less than 5% of the population to the end of 2027 to ease pressure on housing and government services. 3. Build a national electricity grid The Liberals have vowed to maintain the push on reducing emissions - as part of the fight against climate change - while ensuring Canadian companies are still competitive. Carney has promised to build a national "east to west" electricity grid to reduce energy dependence on the US. One of his first moves as PM, before the election, was to repeal Trudeau's unpopular carbon pricing programme, which was designed to give financial incentives for people and firms to turn away from fossil fuels. But Carney maintained a similar tax on large carbon emitters. In his victory speech, he said: "It's time to build Canada into an energy superpower in both clean and conventional energy." 4. A massive hike in defence spending Carney has vowed to raise defence spending to 2% of Canada's GDP, which is the target for all countries in the Nato military alliance. Last year, it spent less than 1.4%. Trump has been critical of countries not meeting the 2% benchmark, and says Canada relies too much militarily on the US. And Trump's pursuit of Canada as a "51st state" of the US has focused minds north of the border on their own security independence. The Liberals say they will spend C$18bn on defence over the next four years, which will go to purchasing new equipment like submarines and heavy icebreakers that can be used in Canada's north. 5. Boost domestic trade and car-making Carney has pledged to find new ways to trade in light of the impediments placed on cross-border commerce by Trump's tariffs regime. In his speech on Tuesday, Carney vowed new "trade and energy corridors working in partnership with the provinces, territories, and Indigenous peoples". On Friday, Carney pledged to remove federal barriers to trade between provinces by 1 July. Among his plans are an "all-in-Canada" network for vehicle parts, under which more manufacturing will happen domestically - meaning less reliance on imports from the US. The Liberals also want to invest C$5bn in national ports, railways, roads and other infrastructure that would help the country further diversify its trading partners.

Canadian member of parliament Paul Chiang has quit as a Liberal Party candidate over comments he made suggesting a political rival should be turned over to the Chinese consulate in return for a bounty. Tay, who is running for the Conservatives in the 28 April federal election, is one of a number of overseas activists who have been targeted by Hong Kong police for allegedly breaking the city's national security law. Chiang said he is withdrawing from the race to avoid "distractions in this critical moment". Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who had previously defended Chiang, said on Tuesday he had accepted his candidate's resignation. "As I said yesterday, his comments were deeply troubling and regrettable," said Carney as he campaigned in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Liberal leader had said the day before that Chiang would stay on as the party's candidate in a Toronto-area riding given that he had apologised for the remarks, which were made earlier this year at a Chinese-language media event. Tay, who was born in Hong Kong and immigrated to Canada as an adult, is co-founder of Canada-based nonprofit group HongKonger Station, which promotes democracy and free speech. Last December, Hong Kong police offered a HK$1m (C$184,000; $128,000) bounty for information leading to Tay's arrest, accusing him of incitement to secession and collusion with a foreign country. The Conservative candidate, who is also running for a Toronto area seat, rejected Chiang's apology and called for his firing. "His threatening public comments were intended to intimidate me, and they must not be tolerated," Tay said in a statement. Chiang announced he was stepping down in a social media post shortly after midnight, saying he had served with the "fullest commitment to keeping people safe and protecting our country's values". His resignation came after the Royal Canadian Mounted Police told Canadian media the force is "looking into the matter". "Foreign actor interference, including instances of transnational repression, continues to be a pervasive threat in Canada," a spokesperson told Globe and Mail. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre on Tuesday criticised Carney for not removing Chiang when the comments came to light late last week. "Mr Carney will never put this country first, he will always put himself first," he said. Meanwhile, the Conservatives removed one of their candidates over comments made on a 2022 podcast, where he appeared to joke about former prime minister Justin Trudeau deserving the death penalty. Poilievre told CTV News, which first reported on the remarks, that they were "unacceptable".

A woman has completed her attempt to traverse solo across Canada's largest island. Covering 150 miles (241km) on foot and by ski while pulling a sledge across Baffin Island, Camilla Hempleman-Adams battled temperatures as low as minus 40C and winds of 75kmph. The 32-year-old from Wiltshire had hoped to complete the challenge in 14 days, but finished a day faster than anticipated. She said: "It's been a really tough two weeks, but an incredible two weeks." "I'm feeling pretty exhausted, I have very sore feet, but it's nice to be back in civilisation," she added. The solo trek across Baffin Island - Canada's largest island - took Ms Hempleman-Adams from Qikiqtarjuaq to Pangnirtung, through Auyuittuq National Park.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says US President Donald Trump "respected Canada's sovereignty" in the first call between the pair, who spoke amid an ongoing trade war between the two neighbours. Trump has repeatedly suggested that Canada should become the 51st US state - an idea that has sparked widespread backlash among Canadians. Carney, currently in the midst of an election campaign, described the call as "very constructive", while Trump said the call was "extremely productive". Trump's planned 25% tariff on vehicle imports is due to come into effect on 2 April, which could prove devastating for the Canadian car industry. Historically, Canadian leaders prioritise an early call with their US counterpart soon after becoming prime minister. The call between Carney and Trump, however, is the first since the new prime minister took office on 14 March. The Canadian prime minister's office said the two leaders agreed to begin comprehensive negotiations about a new economic and security relationship immediately following the election, which will be held on 28 April. The US president's tone on Friday stood in contrast to his past remarks about Canada - particularly his frequent jabs at Carney's predecessor, Justin Trudeau, whom he mockingly referred to as "Governor Trudeau". "I've always loved Canada," Trump told reporters after the call. "We had a very good conversation. The prime minister - they've got an election going on, so we're going to meet after the election." The US has already partially imposed a blanket 25% tariff on Canadian goods, along with a 25% duty on all aluminium and steel imports. Canada has so far retaliated with about C$60bn ($42bn; £32bn) of tariffs on US goods. The new car tariffs will come into effect next month, the White House has said. Taxes on parts are set to start in May or later. On Thursday evening, Carney had said the US was "no longer a reliable trading partner" and that Canada's old relationship with the US "is over". Carney, who leads Canada's Liberal Party, has vowed to impose retaliatory tariffs with "maximum impact" on the US. On Friday, he conveyed the message once again to Trump, according to the statement from his office, suggesting further retaliatory tariffs could be announced if Trump moves ahead with threatened levies on 2 April. The US president's proposed vehice tariffs could impact as many as 500,000 jobs in the Canadian auto industry. "I think things will work out very well between Canada and the United States," Trump said to reporters after the call. "We have liberation day, as you know, on April 2 and, I'm not referring to Canada, but many countries have taken advantage of us." Worsening US-Canadian relations have become a key issue in Canada's general election. After the call, Pierre Poilievre, leader of the Conservatives, the main opposition party, when asked about the apparent change in tone from Trump, said he "hopes" that was the case, adding: "We want to put an end to this crazy tariff chaos." He also lambasted the Liberals, who have been in power since 2015, saying: "It's clear the president would like to keep the Liberals in power - they've been very good for his agenda. He wants to take our money and our jobs and Liberals have helped him do it." On the campaign trail on Friday, Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet, whose party represents Quebec's interests in Ottawa, expressed concern that Carney's statement about a forthcoming comprehensive discussion with Trump could mean the Liberal leader was open to conceding to US pressure. Left-wing NDP leader Jagmeet Singh has previously referred to the tariffs as a "betrayal". Trump has also warned Canada against working with the European Union to counter US reciprocal tariffs that he is expected to announce soon. Any effort to do so, he said, would be met with "large scale tariffs, far larger than currently planned".

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said that Canada's old relationship with the United States, "based on deepening integration of our economies and tight security and military cooperation, is over". Speaking to reporters in Ottawa after a cabinet meeting, Carney said Canadians must "fundamentally reimagine our economy" in the face of US President Donald Trump's tariffs. He said Canada would respond with retaliatory tariffs that will have "maximum impact" on the US. Trump announced on Wednesday he would target imported vehicles and vehicle parts with a 25% tax, stating: "This is permanent." Carney, the Liberal Party leader, called the original Canada-US Automotive Products Agreement signed in 1965 the most important deal in his lifetime. "That's finished with these tariffs," he said in French. He continued that Canada can sustain an auto industry with the US tariffs provided the government and business community work to "reimagine" and "retool" the industry. Canada needs to build an economy Canadians can control, he said, and that would include rethinking its trade relationship with other partners. It remains to be seen whether Canadians can have a strong trading relationship with the United States going forward, he added. Carney has switched his campaign plans ahead of next month's general election to confront the latest import duties. The US has already partially imposed a blanket 25% tariff on Canadian goods, along with a 25% duty on all aluminium and steel imports. Canada has so far retaliated with about C$60bn ($42bn; £32bn) of tariffs on US goods. The new car tariffs will come into effect on 2 April, with charges on businesses importing vehicles starting the next day, the White House said. Taxes on parts are set to start in May or later. Early on Thursday morning, Trump warned Canada and the EU against joining forces versus the US in the trade war. "If the European Union works with Canada in order to do economic harm to the USA, large scale Tariffs, far larger than currently planned, will be placed on them both," he posted on his Truth Social platform. Carney met his ministers in Ottawa on Thursday morning to "discuss trade options". He had originally been scheduled to campaign in Quebec. He said during his press conference that President Trump had reached out to him last night to schedule a call, and that it would take place in the "next day or two". If it takes place, this would be the first call between the pair. Pierre Poilievre, leader of the Conservatives, the main opposition party, called the tariffs "unjustified and unprovoked". The NDP, a left-wing party that previously helped prop up the minority Liberal government of ex-PM Justin Trudeau, also switched its campaign plans on Thursday. Jagmeet Singh, the NDP leader, spent the day meeting union leaders and car workers in Windsor, Ontario, an auto manufacturing hub across from Detroit, Michigan. He said the US tariffs are a "betrayal" against a close ally, saying that "Donald Trump has started an illegal trade war with Canada" for "absolutely no reason". He said any auto company that moves their operations out of Canada because of the tariffs should be blocked from selling cars in the country. Canadians go to the polls on 28 April. The US imported about eight million cars last year - accounting for about $240bn in trade and roughly half of overall sales. Earlier this month, after he became Liberal leader and before he was sworn in as prime minister, Carney gave a victory speech in which he lambasted the US president. "A person who worships at the altar of Donald Trump will kneel before him, not stand up to him," he said, while assailing his main rival, Poilievre. Mexico is the top supplier of cars to the US, followed by South Korea, Japan, Canada and Germany. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, in a news conference on Thursday morning, declined to comment directly on the new auto tariffs. She vowed her government would "always defend Mexico", and fight to maintain job creation and protect Mexican companies affected by import taxes. She said Mexico would provide an "integral response" to the Trump administration's tariffs on 3 April, the day after many are due to come into effect. Sheinbaum has repeatedly noted that many US car companies have operations in both Mexico and Canada, which are bound by a North American free trade agreement that Trump himself negotiated during his first term in the White House. "Of course, there shouldn't be tariffs," she said on Thursday. "That's the essence of the free trade agreement."

Canadian investigators have formally identified a missing indigenous woman who was murdered by a serial killer in 2022. Ashlee Shingoose, 30, was the first of four people killed by Jeremy Skibicki in Manitoba. She had been known only as Mashkode Bizhiki'ikwe (Buffalo Woman) until her identity was discovered by investigators and revealed on Wednesday. Police officials also shared new details about Ms Shingoose's death, including naming the local landfill where they believe her remains are located. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew pledged to conduct a search of the facility, in an effort to find her body at her family's request. Morgan Harris, 39, Marcedes Myran, 26, and Rebecca Contois, 24 were also killed by Jeremy Skibicki. He has been convicted of all four deaths and is serving a life sentence. Harris and Myran were identified earlier this month after being found in the Prairie Green Landfill, north of Winnipeg. The search there is still ongoing, and remains continue to be found, according to the Manitoba premier. Winnipeg Police Deputy Chief Cam Mackid said during a news conference that the Shingoose family had been given confirmation of her death on Tuesday. Chief Raymond Flett of the St Theresa Point Anisininew Nation, told reporters that the news is "heartbreaking" but is "welcome". The chief also read a letter from Shingoose's mother, who wrote: "Please start the search as soon as possible." "It's been a long time waiting. I need to bring her home. I need closure. Enough. Search the landfill as soon as possible." He added that many other indigenous Canadians have "been murdered without proper investigation accountability". A national inquiry found that indigenous women in Canada were 12 times more likely to be missing or murdered than non-indigenous Canadians. A news release issued by the Winnipeg Police Service said police received "new information" in December 2024, which "led investigators to make a preliminary identification". The positive identification was made after specific evidence seized during the investigation was sent for DNA analysis. The statement added that Shingoose's body was placed in a garbage bin behind a commercial business after she was killed. It said that "based on the timing of her death, and the new information about where she had been placed" police believe she was taken to the Brady Landfill. Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, told the Canadian Press that she had spoken to Shingoose's relatives, and that she wants the police to be investigated for their handling of the deaths. "Why didn't the police service help these families right off the bat, and why didn't the previous provincial government want to help these families right off the bat," she said. The provincial government initially declined to search the Prairie Green Landfill for the remains of the women, due to steep costs and concerns about hazardous waste. Their murders went undetected for months until a man looking for scrap metal in a bin outside Skibicki's apartment found partial human remains, identified as belonging to Contois.

Canada's Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has said he won his leadership "fair and square" following reports that India allegedly meddled in the party's 2022 leadership race. Citing a source with top-security clearance, the Globe and Mail newspaper reported allegations that Indian agents were involved in fundraising and organising within Canada's South Asian community to support Poilievre. There is no evidence that Poilievre or his team were aware of the alleged interference. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Mark Carney also faced scrutiny over whether a candidate was ousted due to alleged ties to India. Both leaders fielded questions as they campaigned ahead of Canada's 28 April election. India has been accused of election interference in Canada before, but its government has repeatedly denied the allegations. The Globe and Mail reported on Monday that Canadian intelligence agents could not raise concerns about India's alleged involvement with Poilievre because he had not obtained the necessary security clearance. The report said India's alleged attempts to interfere were part of a larger effort to influence Canadian politicians of all parties. Poilievre is the only federal party leader running for prime minister who has refused security clearance. He defended his stance on Tuesday, calling the process politicised and arguing it would prevent him from speaking publicly on national issues. "What I will not do is commit to the oath of secrecy the Liberals want to impose on me," Poilievre said. "They don't want me to speak about these matters, so they bring me into a dark room and they say: 'We're going to give you a little bit of bread crumbs of intel and then we'll tell you you can't talk about this stuff any more.'" Poilievre won the 2022 leadership race with 68% of the vote. Canadian intelligence agents said there is no indication the alleged interference attempt influenced the outcome, the Globe and Mail reported. Broadcaster Radio-Canada also confirmed the Globe's reporting. On Wednesday, the Globe also reported that the Liberal Party revoked an Ottawa MP's leadership bid and nomination over foreign-interference concerns related to India. MP Chandra Arya, barred from the leadership race won by Carney in March, denied the allegations. "The sole point of contention with the Liberal Party has been my outspoken advocacy on issues important to Hindu Canadians and my firm stance against Khalistani extremism," he said. Responding to questions on the campaign trail, Carney said that Liberal Party has "a very robust and serious process of vetting candidates" and some don't get the "green light". Foreign meddling in Canadian elections has become an increasing concern, prompting a public inquiry last year. The report concluded that China and India attempted to interfere in Canada's last two elections. While these attempts were "troubling" they had "minimal impact", the report said. But it warned that disinformation posed an "existential threat" to the country's democracy. A Canadian election integrity task force cautioned on Monday that foreign agents from China, Russia, and India may attempt to influence the ongoing campaign using AI, proxies, and online disinformation targeting diaspora communities. Officials said Canadians will likely see a "more active" federal government response on issues of disinformation as a result.

Canada's general election campaign is under way, a 36-day sprint taking place in unprecedented circumstances. Voters will consider which party should govern the country just as the US - its neighbour and largest economic partner - launches a trade war and President Donald Trump muses about making Canada the 51st US state. Domestic issues like housing and immigration will still be important, of course, but for the first time in decades, Canadians will also be grappling with fundamental questions about the country's future when they head to the ballot box on 28 April. Here are five things to watch as the campaign unfolds. Candidates talking tough on Trump Canada and the US share deeply integrated economies, a long-standing security partnership and the longest "undefended" border in the world. So when President Donald Trump says he wants to use "economic force" against America's neighbour, calls the border an "artificially drawn line" and imposes steep tariffs, it marks a profound shift in the relationship between the two allies. "It is impossible to overstate the impact of the president's actions on Canadian politics, on Canadian psyche, on Canadian business," said Marci Surkes, chief strategy officer at public affairs firm Compass Rose and a former policy director to ex-prime minister Justin Trudeau, a Liberal. Trump's interventions have already reshaped politics in Canada, helping transform what seemed like a certain Conservative victory into a too-close-to-call battle with the Liberals. And on Sunday, as campaigning began, all the party leaders focused their launch messages heavily on the US threats. What the US president says and does over the next few weeks will inevitably factor into the race. On April 2, for example, in just the second week of campaigning, the White House is expected to announce more global tariffs. He has already started to make his views on the election known, telling Fox News host Laura Ingraham on 18 March that Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre is "stupidly, no friend of mine" and that it may be "easier to deal actually with a Liberal". Questions about experience Canadians know their next PM will have no choice but to deal with Donald Trump. So the question on many voters' minds is: who can most capably handle the unpredictable US president? The contest essentially boils down to the new Liberal leader Mark Carney and Poilievre, who has led the Conservatives since 2022. Two other major parties will be contesting seats in Parliament - the left-leaning New Democrats (NDP) and the the Bloc Québécois - but Canadians have historically elected Conservative or Liberal governments. Carney, 60, is a former central banker who is new to politics - after taking over from Justin Trudeau earlier this month, he became the first prime minister in Canada never elected to Parliament. He brings experience on the world stage - he governed the Bank of England from 2013-2020 - but lacks time spent in the cut and thrust of political campaigning, and will get his first real test in this general election. If the Liberals fail to win the election, he could have the shortest tenure of any PM in the country's history. At 45, Poilievre may be significantly younger, but he is a political veteran. First elected to the House of Commons at age 25, he has two decades of experience in federal politics, including time in cabinet, and is known for his political acumen. As party leader, he was quick to highlight the pain that inflation was inflicting on Canadian families, and capitalise on broader anger at Trudeau and the Liberals on issues like immigration. His tag line "Canada is broken" has in recent weeks become "Canada first". The shift in message from a country in decline to one of patriotism and strength comes as he presents himself as able to stand up to Trump. He is "the consummate retail politician", Ms Surkes said, but "suffers from having - right now - a brand and a narrative that no longer fits the moment". Sovereignty playing big It will be the first time in decades that a Canadian election is not focused mostly on domestic issues. Instead, this election is about the big, national questions: Canada's sovereignty and what the country must do to face an uncertain future with uncertain allies. Ms Surkes compared the situation to the 1988 elecftion, when Canada's relationship with the US also took centre stage as the country mulled joining the North American Free Trade Agreement. "The same types of questions were being asked in terms of whether there would be a forfeiture of Canadian sovereignty, economic sovereignty, economic independence," she said. This time, both main parties are pushing a vision of growth and independence - building much-needed housing, moving forward on major energy and resource projects, retaliating against US tariffs and bolstering Canada's defence capabilities. So where are the differences? Carney has moved the Liberals more towards the political centre as he seeks to distance himself from Trudeau, who left office deeply unpopular. He has promised to "spend less and invest more" and to boost capital investments in things like housing, and military infrastructure and computing resources. Poilievre, a fiscal hawk, pitches cutting red tape and taxes to boost industry and spur infrastructure investment and home building. The Conservatives have also focused more sharply on issues like crime. Cost-of-living concerns fighting for space The core domestic concerns that Canadians have had in recent years - affordability, housing, healthcare - haven't gone away. But pollster David Coletto, CEO of Abacus Data, says they have been subsumed by the "existential threat" of the trade war with the US. "Even if the cost of living is still the top issue, it may not be as powerful a motivator to drive voting behavior," he adds. So the parties will be challenged to come up with convincing policies to address these concerns - but frame them in the context of the wider economic threat. The US tariffs, the uncertainty caused by their on-again-off-again nature, and Canada's C$60bn in counter-tariffs, are already being felt by businesses and communities across the country. This week, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development more than halved its economic growth outlook for Canada this year and next. More shifts in polling? National opinion polls have seen a stunning reversal in recent weeks, with the Conservatives losing the 20-point lead they had over the Liberals for the better part of a year. As the race officially begins, it's a toss-up. Mr Coletto said three factors led to the "perfect storm" in polling: the resignation of the deeply unpopular Trudeau, the Liberal leadership race which that sparked, and the return of Donald Trump to the White House. Both candidates now are trying to "bring their enemies to the battlefield" to eke out an advantage, he added. Carney is seeking to paint Poilievre as "Trump-light", while Poilievre suggests Carney is "just like Justin". Each campaign enjoys natural advantages, he says. The Conservatives have "an animated base who desperately want a change in government", along with a well-funded political machine. The Liberals currently "have the advantage on narrative" that has helped shift the polls more in their favour. The other two official parties - the NDP and the Bloc - have both seen their popularity diminish. The left-leaning NDP, which had 24 seats in the last Parliament, helped prop up the Liberal minority government in recent years in exchange for support for progressive policies like dental care for low-income Canadians. But leader Jagmeet Singh has been pushing hard against Carney, seeking to frame him as someone who will "protect billionaires and big business". Bloc leader Blanchet said on Sunday he would fight for Quebec companies and workers struggling under US tariffs, especially in the aluminium industry.

Canada's Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly has told the BBC she believes Canada can win the trade war which was sparked by a series of tariffs ordered by US President Donald Trump. "We are the biggest customer of the US," Joly told the BBC's World Service Weekend programme. "We buy more from the Americans than China, Japan, the UK and France combined." Joly said tariffs and increased prices are a priority for Canadians as voters prepare to head to the polls to elect a new prime minister later this year. The US president has imposed 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from Canada. Trump has also vowed to impose a sweeping range of "reciprocal" tariffs on 2 April. Joly said that because the US and Canadian economies are so intertwined, "we have the most leverage in the world when it comes to the US". She noted it is not just Canadians feeling the pain from tariffs, but "hardworking Americans" too. But Joly said it could be Americans who are the most successful in urging an end to the trade war. "We think that ultimately the only ones that will be able to help us win this war... are the Americans themselves because they're the ones that can send a message to their lawmakers," she told the BBC. "We can win the hearts and minds of Americans, because ultimately they're the ones paying for this" she added, noting that both American and Canadian jobs are at risk because of the tariffs. The trade war is expected to be at the forefront of Canadians' minds when they head to the polls. Reports suggest Prime Minister Carney could call for a snap election on Sunday. That election is expected to be held on 28 April. And it is not just the Liberals making the case against US tariffs, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has also been on the trade war. He has argued he is best equipped to take on Trump. "There is no good reason to do this to these good people," Poilievre said earlier this week. "Stop the tariffs, stop the chaos." Trump has vowed to impose further tariffs Canada, and other countries around the world, on 2 April - calling these tariffs "the big one". Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has promised to impose reciprocal tariffs if Trump's tariff threats come to fruition. It will bring to head a weeks-long back and forth between the North American countries. The frustration over trade war has led some Canadians to start protesting. In Toronto on Saturday, Canadians held an "elbows up" protest to push back against President Trump's stated desire of making Canada the 51st state of the US, and the ongoing trade war. The phrase, used in hockey to describe defending oneself or fighting back, has been repurposed by protesters in Canada. In the BBC World Service Weekend interview, Joly was also asked about the upcoming federal election. She said the Liberal party is "very keen" to make sure Canadians give the party "a clear mandate" to deal with Trump and the threat of tariffs. Joly said Canadians are "preoccupied" by what is happening in the White House and they are looking for a prime minister who has "strong values". The race will likely come down to a choice between Carney and Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre. Why is Trump using tariffs? Tariffs are a central part of Trump's overall economic vision. He says tariffs will boost US manufacturing and protect jobs, raising tax revenue and growing the domestic economy. He also wants to restore America's trade balance with its foreign partners - reducing the gap that exists between how much the US imports from and exports to individual countries. But he has refused to rule out the prospect of a recession as a result of his trade policies, which sent US stocks sharply down in the days before the metal tariffs took effect. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick later said the tariffs were "worth it" even if they did lead to an economic downturn. Trump's tariffs initially targeted goods from China, Mexico and Canada. These accounted for more than 40% of imports into the US in 2024. But Trump has accused the three countries of not doing enough to end the flow of migrants and illegal drugs such as fentanyl into the US. All three countries have rejected the accusations.

Four Canadians were executed in China on drug-related charges earlier this year, Canadian authorities have confirmed. All of them were dual citizens and their identities have been withheld, Canada's foreign minister Mélanie Joly said. A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Canada urged Ottawa to "stop making irresponsible remarks", as pundits feared a further downturn in relations between the countries after years of strain. China's foreign ministry said on Thursday that it had acted "in accordance with the law", while the embassy said there was "solid and sufficient" evidence for their crimes. Beijing had "fully guaranteed the rights and interests of the Canadian nationals concerned", the embassy said, urging Canada to respect "China's judicial sovereignty". China does not recognise dual citizenship and takes a tough stance on drug crimes. However, it's rare for the death penalty to be carried out on foreigners. Joly said she had been following the cases "very closely" for months and had tried with other officials, including former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, to stop the executions. In a statement to Canadian media, Global Affairs Canada spokeswoman Charlotte MacLeod said Canada had "repeatedly called for clemency for these individuals at the senior-most levels and remains steadfast in its opposition to the use of the death penalty in all cases, everywhere". China imposes the death penalty on serious crimes including those related to drugs, corruption and espionage. While the number of executions are kept secret, human rights groups believe China has one of the highest execution rates in the world. "These shocking and inhumane executions of Canadian citizens by Chinese authorities should be a wake-up call for Canada," said Ketty Nivyabandi, from Amnesty International Canada. "We are devastated for the families of the victims, and we hold them in our hearts as they try to process the unimaginable. "Our thoughts also go to the loved ones of Canadian citizens whom China is holding on death row or whose whereabouts in the Chinese prison system are unknown." In 2019, Canadian national Robert Lloyd Schellenberg was sentenced to death in China for drug smuggling, in a high-profile case condemned by the Canadian government. He was not among the Canadians who were executed. "We'll continue to not only strongly condemn but also ask for leniency for other Canadians that are facing similar situations," Joly said on Wednesday. Relations between Canada and China have been icy since 2018, after Canada detained a Chinese telecom executive, Meng Wanzhou, on a US extradition request. China arrested two Canadians shortly afterwards, both of whom have now been released. In 2023, Canadian media released reports, many based on leaked intelligence, about detailed claims of Chinese meddling in the country's federal elections. China denied the reports, calling them "baseless and defamatory". More recently, China imposed retaliatory tariffs on some Canadian farm and food imports after Ottawa placed levies on Chinese electric vehicles, steel and aluminium.