Trump an ogre to Canada but an elephant in our polling booths

New Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced a national election for April 28, coincidentally just weeks before the Australian federal election deadline. The shadow of Donald Trump looms over both.

Australian political leaders gently tiptoe around the US president, but the chaos south of the border has irrevocably altered Canadian politics.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced a national election for April 28.Credit: AP

Under former prime minister Justin Trudeau, the Liberal Party’s popularity had been sliding while the fortunes of the Conservative Party soared with leader Pierre Poilievre. Polls had him leading by 25 per cent. That has vanished.

Trump’s bullying behaviour reversed the Liberal Party decline. He has imposed hurtful tariffs on Canada and promises more. Meanwhile, his threats to the independence of America’s closest ally and trading partner has ignited patriotism. “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. “He wants to break us, so America can own us. We will not let that happen.”

In contrast, until now, at least, Poilievre has mimicked Trump, attacking “woke” culture and MPs, calling for the defunding of the national broadcaster and asserted there are only two genders.

The Herald’s North America correspondent, Michael Koziol, said the question of who can best stand up to Trump and defend Canada’s interests may decide the election.

The choice facing Canadian voters is highly unusual: until now, most democracies avoided fighting elections over the policies of neighbouring nations.

Campaigning Australian politicians have largely ignored foreign policy, preferring to fight on national issues since Labor leader Arthur Calwell made opposition to the Vietnam War the central plank of his 1966 election pitch and led his party to a humiliating landslide defeat.

Trump’s sometimes seemingly impetuous tornado of policy changes have barged into the Australian election, but, unlike Canada, our politicians are refusing to bite back.

In the 124 days since Trump was sworn in, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese remained polite while the US refused to grant Australia exemption from steel and aluminium tariffs. He also calmly reiterated Australia’s support for Ukraine when President Volodymyr Zelensky was set upon in the White House, and rejected criticism of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme from America’s pharmaceutical industry and would not countenance changes to the PBS to avoid American anger.

For his part, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton’s reaction to the tariff slight was that Trump would be the first foreign leader he would meet as prime minister and was confident he could find “common ground” if given the opportunity. He also would defend the PBS. But he has been forced to wear the odour of the Liberal Party’s deepest conservatives trying to start fights over Trump favourites, including transgender rights and freedom of speech, while attempting to focus his team on cost-of-living issues.

Trump is a clear and present danger to Canada, but he is the elephant in Australian polling booths. Neither Albanese nor Dutton can be sure he will turn out friend or foe.

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