Canada Elections: Who Can Stand Up To Trump? Will Conservatives Continue To Favour The US President? Key Things To Know

(MENAFN- Live Mint) Canada's new Prime Minister Mark Carney and his Conservative opponent kicked off their election campaigns on Sunday. Amid a trade war and Trump's annexation threats, Carney announced a five-week poll campaign before the vote on April 28.

Carney said that the US President Donald Trump must respect Canada's sovereignty.

“We are facing the most significant crisis of our lifetimes because of President Trump's unjustified trade actions and his threats to our sovereignty,” Carney said.

“President Trump claims that Canada isn't a real country. He wants to break us so America can own us. We will not let that happen," he added. Here's a peek into 5 things that could shape Canada's election campaign.

The election is no longer about Trudeau

The opposition Conservatives hoped to make the election about Trudeau, whose popularity declined as food and housing prices rose and immigration surged. But after decades of stability in bilateral ties with the US, the vote is now expected to focus on who is best equipped to deal with President Trump.

Carney said the choice for Canadians is a“Canadian Trump or a government that unites.”

“Canadians are always ready when someone else drops the gloves,” Carney said, invoking a hockey term.“In this trade war, just like in hockey, we will win.”

Trump announced 25% tariffs on Canada's steel and aluminium and is threatening more on all Canadian products - as well as all of America's trading partners - on April 2.

Who are fighting the elections?

Although other parties are running, the Liberals and the Conservatives are the only two groupings that have a chance to form a government. The party that commands a majority in Parliament, either alone or with the support of another party, will form the next government, and its leader will be the prime minister.

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