Will there be a snap election? U.S. trade war, annexation threats ruffling Canadians politics

Punishing U.S. tariffs and talk of America annexing Canada are shaking up the political landscape on this side of the border, with suggestions a snap federal election could be called within weeks.

Two new polls find the floundering Liberals could close the gap with the leading Conservatives, depending on who ends up leading the party.

If economist Mark Carney were to lead, a poll from Leger shows Liberal support jumps six points to 37 per cent, while Conservative support drops three points to 37 per cent, putting the parties in a dead heat.

On the other hand, If Chrystia Freeland were to win the Liberal leadership, support would decline to 28 per cent, giving the Conservatives a stronger lead at 39 per cent.

Even with the leadership of the party unresolved, support for the Liberals has been growing, narrowing the gap with Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives to only nine points, compared to an 18-point lead over the Liberals in previous Leger polling.

Meanwhile, a poll from Pallas puts a Carney-led Liberal Party at 39 per cent support, ahead of the Conservatives at 38 per cent.

“While the federal Conservatives maintain a substantial but narrowing lead over the governing Liberals, the Liberals led by former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney would win an election if held today,” said a release from Pallas.

When Leger asked who is the most trusted to manage Canada-U.S. relations, Poilievre and Carney received the most support at 22 per cent and 20 percent, respectively.

“Justin Trudeau and Doug Ford rank lower at nine per cent. Chrystia Freeland also ranks lower at six per cent, followed by Jagmeet Singh at five per cent,” said a release from the polling company.

Carney seems to be watching this surge in support. An internal NDP memo obtained by the Canadian Press warns the party’s candidates and campaign staff to be ready for a federal election call to come as early as March 10, a day after the Liberals are set to announce their new leader.

The memo says, “It is becoming more and more likely” that Carney will win the Liberal leadership race and NDP officials have heard rumours that he plans to call a snap election.