Trump seen as factor in Canadian election result

A surge in Canadian nationalism sparked by US President Donald Trump's tariff threats and provocative remarks helped the Liberal Party reverse its electoral fortunes, according to local professor.

"Undoubtedly, the conduct of President Trump towards Canada very significantly influenced the election," said Ronald Stagg, a professor of history at Toronto Metropolitan University.

The Conservatives led the Liberals by 24 percentage points in January polling, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corp poll tracker.

Stagg told China Daily that Trump's remarks, coupled with domestic shifts — including Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's cancellation of the carbon levy and former prime minister Justin Trudeau's retirement contributed to a political realignment.

At the outset of the campaign, Canadian voters were most concerned with "the increasing cost of living, lack of affordable housing, what the Conservatives incorrectly called the Carbon Tax and their dislike of Justin Trudeau", Stagg said.

He said that while inflation and housing remained persistent worries, in the minds of many voters, they became secondary to the perceived threat posed by Trump.

"Elect the man who has the strength and wisdom to cut your taxes in half, increase your military power, for free, to the highest level in the world," Trump posted on social media.

"Have your car, steel, aluminum, lumber, energy, and all other businesses, quadruple in size, with zero tariffs or taxes, if Canada becomes the cherished 51st. state of the United States of America."

Stagg said that the American president's rhetoric sharpened Canadian concerns over both economic stability and national identity.

"The majority of Canadians saw the economic and territorial threat to Canada as more critical," he said. "This perception increased feelings of Canadian nationalism dramatically."

As tensions escalated, Stagg said voters wanted a leader who could deal with Trump and US relations.

Official results from Canada's federal election showed the Liberals leading in 168 electoral districts — four seats short of a majority. The Conservative Party placed second with 144.

"Enough saw Prime Minister Carney as the best option to deal with threats from Donald Trump to raise support for the Liberal Party dramatically," Stagg said.

In a victory speech, Carney cast the result as an opportunity to "stand up for Canada" and said that the US president "is trying to break us so America can own us".

Speaking from Ottawa, Carney said Canada can no longer count the US as a friend.

"America wants our land, our resources, our water, our country — never," Carney said. "But these are not idle threats. President Trump is trying to break us so that America can own us. That will never ever happen."

Stagg said the new prime minister will have to strike a delicate balance between firmness and pragmatism in dealing with Trump.

Carney has said his country deserves respect from the US and will only enter trade and security talks with him "on our terms".

"We are over the shock of the American betrayal, but we should never forget the lessons," he said Tuesday. "Our old relationship with the United States, a relationship based on steadily increasing integration, is over.

"The system of open global trade anchored by the United States, a system that Canada has relied on since the Second World War, a system that while not perfect has helped deliver prosperity for a country for decades, is over," he said.

"Mark Carney will talk tough, both for home consumption, and as a way to deal with Donald Trump, who respects strong leaders," Stagg said.

"But he will look for ways to compromise with the American government, in order to lessen current and future economic measures taken against Canada," he said.