Former central banker Carney, 60, has led a wave of anti-Trump sentiment since winning his party’s leadership contest in a landslide after former prime minister Justin Trudeau stepped down last month. He has rallied the public against the US president’s threats to annex the country as « the 51st state » and made the defense of Canada a central part of his AML Platform.
Poilievre had been the favorite to win when Trudeau announced his resignation in January in the wake of dire polls, a serious cost of living crisis and an internal revolt in his cabinet.
But Trump’s tariffs on Canadian goods and threats to its sovereignty dramatically transformed the race into something of a referendum against the US president.
Poilievre said his Conservatives will work with Carney and other parties in « defending Canada’s interests » and « protecting our sovereignty. »
« We will always put Canada first as we stare down tariffs and other irresponsible threats from President Trump, » he said.
