NATIONAL NEWS - Canada’s Liberal Party, led by former central banker, Prime Minister Mark Carney, has secured a fourth consecutive term in the election on Monday 28 April.
At this stage it is not clear if the Liberal Party has secured an all-out majority or whether the party will need coalition partners.
The victory comes after a campaign dominated by U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats of tariffs and annexation, which sparked a surge of Canadian patriotism.
Carney, a former central banker who assumed leadership after Justin Trudeau’s resignation in January, capitalised on anti-Trump sentiment, promising to defend Canada’s sovereignty and diversify trade.
It also seems that voters put their trust in Carney due to his extensive financial background and his intimate knowledge of financial markets, global financial players and the international world of finance.
According to CNN, Carney said his country would “never” yield to the United States, following a campaign overshadowed by provocations and steep trade tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump.
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has conceded defeat.
For South Africans, Canada’s focus on trade resilience amid US pressure, echoes our own efforts to navigate global economic challenges.
Rationality prevails
In a statement, John Steenhuisen, the leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA) congratulated Carney and the Liberal Party on their decisive victory.
"The triumph of the Liberal Party of Canada, following a dramatic swing in the polls, confirms that the rational liberal world is alive and well in our global politics, despite significant recent geo-political shifts which threaten to undermine the rights and freedoms of people around the globe."
Steenhuisen said Canada has a leading role to play in liberal global politics and in the global economy at large.
"We as the DA, and a member party of South Africa’s Government of National Unity (GNU), look forward to deepening diplomatic ties and bilateral trade with Canada as we grow our economies, and advance universal freedoms in our regions and around the world.
"The DA would like to wish Prime Minister-elect, Mark Carney, well as he takes the helm of one of the world’s great liberal democracies in a time of great global uncertainty. We look forward to engaging with the Carney administration soon to reforge the relationship between our two countries and embark on a shared path of continued prosperity," Steenhuisen said.
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