The Trump link in Canada's call for immediate election

A recent poll shows that 77% of Canadians are calling for an immediate federal election, despite it being scheduled for around October.

In Short

• 77% Canadians want immediate federal election
• Trudeau under pressure due to US tariffs
• Trump threatened 25% tariff on Canadian goods

As Donald Trump is busy signing executive orders, one of which threatened a 25 per cent tariff on goods from Canada, a poll has found that Canadians want an immediate federal election, despite it being scheduled for around October. As for outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, there is a silver lining as 59 per cent Canadians feel he should be leading response against the US President.

Over three-quarters (77%) Canadians want an immediate federal election, the Ipsos poll showed. But why? According to the poll, Canadians want a prime minister and government with a strong mandate to deal with Donald Trump. They want "to give the next government a strong mandate to deal with Trump’s threats".

Trump, on his first day in Oval office as the United States President, signed an executive order, imposing a 25% tax on goods from Canada and Mexico from as early as February 1.

The US President said, “We’re thinking in terms of 25 percent on Mexico and Canada, because they’re allowing vast numbers of people — Canada’s a very bad abuser also — vast numbers of people to come in, and fentanyl to come in. I think we’ll do it on February 1."

WHAT CANADA WANTS

The survey noted, “While around two-thirds (67%) of Canadians say they’re confident in Canada’s ability to respond to President Trump’s tariff threats, rising to 75% among those 55+, three-quarters (77%) say we should have an immediate federal election so that Canada has a Prime Minister and government with a strong mandate to deal with the issue. Six in ten (59%) think Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should be leading the response over Canada’s provincial premiers."

However, things might not be that bad for Trudeau as six in ten (59%) think he should be leading the response over Canada’s provincial premiers, the poll showed.

Notably, Trudeau is only in office till March, as the ruling Liberal Party will elect a new leader that month.

TRUDEAU READY TO RESPOND?

At a press conference in Montebello on Tuesday, Justin Trudeau said his country will respond “robustly" if Donald Trump imposes tariffs on Canada.

He asserted, “Everything is on the table. If there are unfair tariffs, we will respond robustly and we will be there to support Canadians and protect our interests."

According to the poll, three in ten (29%) agree that increased tariffs will have little impact on them personally while 71% disagree, acknowledging the potential impact of this economic shock on their own pocketbooks. Men are more likely to see the tariff threat as a bluff (63% vs. 48% women) and to feel increased tariffs will have little impact on them (34% vs. 25% women).

Ipsos poll was conducted between January 17 and 20, 2025, on behalf of Global News. For this survey, a sample of 1,001 Canadians aged 18+ was interviewed online. The poll titled "Three-Quarters (77%) of Canadians Want an Immediate Election to Give Next Government Strong Mandate to Deal With Trump’s Threats" was published on January 21.

TRUMP'S 'BETTER TOGETHER PLAN'

Earlier, Trump had called for merging Canada into the United States. Trump, who never had a good relationship with Trudeau even during his first term, has been floating the idea of making Canada the 51st state of the US. Since his meeting with Trudeau after his November 5 electoral victory in Mar-a-Lago, Trump has been mentioning this on his social media posts several times.

“Many people in Canada LOVE being the 51st State. The United States can no longer suffer the massive Trade Deficits and Subsidies that Canada needs to stay afloat. Justin Trudeau knew this, and resigned,” Trump said on Truth Social.

“If Canada merged with the US, there would be no Tariffs, taxes would go way down, and they would be TOTALLY SECURE from the threat of the Russian and Chinese Ships that are constantly surrounding them. Together, what a great Nation it would be!!!,” he had said.