Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney calls snap election, asks for mandate to tackle Donald Trump

The general election is not due until October 20, but Carney is hoping to capitalise on arecovery by his Liberal party in the polls since January, when Trump began threatening Canada.

"We are facing the most significant crisis of our lifetimes because of President Trump's unjustified trade actions and his threats to our sovereignty," Reuters quoted Carney as saying.

"There is so much more to do to secure Canada. To invest in Canada, to build Canada, to unite Canada. That's why I'm asking for a strong positive mandate from my fellow Canadians. I've just requested that the Governor General dissolve Parliament and call an election for April 28th, and she has agreed," Carney said after Governor General, the personal representative of King Charles, Canada's head of state, approved his request for an election.