Canada PM Carney to call for April 28 election on Sunday —report

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is poised to call a snap federal election for April 28, the Globe and Mail reported on Thursday, citing sources.

He was expected to announce that on Sunday, the report said.

Liberal Party sources had told Reuters Carney would call an election soon after he won the party race to replace Justin Trudeau on March 9, seeking a strong mandate during turbulent time as relations with the neighboring US deteriorate.

Although the next election was not due until October 20, Carney is hoping to capitalize on a remarkable recovery by his Liberal Party in polls since January, when US President Donald Trump began threatening Canada and former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation.

Carney, a former two-time central banker with no previous political or election campaign experience, captured the Liberal leadership two weeks ago by persuading party members he was the best person to take on Trump.

Carney has yet to speak to Trump or lay out detailed plans on how he would deal with tariffs, which could badly hurt the Canadian economy. He has though sought to lower the temperature, telling reporters that he respects what Trump is trying to do.

Carney will campaign against Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, a seasoned politician.

The conservatives had enjoyed a wide lead in polls until Trudeau resigned in January after more than nine years in office, facing plummeting personal approval ratings.

The prime minister's office did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment outside regular business hours. — Reuters