Tariffs, US-Canada relations on top of voters' minds in Toronto

Record ID: 1985925

  • Title: Tariffs, US-Canada relations on top of voters' minds in Toronto
  • Date: 24th March 2025
  • Summary: TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA (MARCH 24, 2025) (REUTERS) VARIOUS CITY SCENES (SOUNDBITE) (English) JAMESON MACPHINE, TORONTO RESIDENT SAYING: "I would expect that whoever the Prime Minister is, whoever the leader is, that they stay true to Canadian roots, they hold their ground, and we don't give in to any of the tariffs or any of the nonsense about becoming a 51st state." TRAF
  • Embargoed:
  • Keywords: Canada politics reaction
  • Location: TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA
  • City: TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA
  • Country: Canada
  • Topics: North America,Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
  • Reuters ID: LVA001129724032025RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Residents in Toronto, Canada said Monday (March 24) tariffs and relations with the United States were a top priority for the upcoming April 28 elections.
    "I would expect that whoever the Prime Minister is, whoever the leader is, that they stay true to Canadian roots, they hold their ground, and we don't give in to any of the tariffs or any of the nonsense about becoming a 51st state," said Toronto resident, Jameson MacPhine, 29, on Monday (March 24).
    On Sunday, Canada's newly sworn-in Prime Minister Mark Carney called for snap elections. saying he needed a strong mandate to deal with the threat posed by U.S. President Donald Trump, who "wants to break us so America can own us."
    The comments showed the extent to which relations between the U.S. and Canada, two long-time allies and major trading partners, have deteriorated since Trump imposed tariffs on Canada and threatened to annex it as the 51st state.
    "I just want to see a leader that's firm, a leader that definitely puts Canada first," Toronto resident Jose Cardona, 29, told Reuters.
    Carney, a former two-time central banker with no previous political or election campaign experience, captured the Liberal leadership two weeks ago by persuading party members he was the best person to tackle Trump.
    Although the next election was not due until October 20, Carney is hoping to capitalize on a remarkable recovery by his Liberal Party in the polls since January, when Trump began threatening Canada and former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation.
    Trump on March 6 delayed a broad 25% tariff on some Canadian goods for 30 days. He has since imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum imports and threatened reciprocal tariffs on additional goods, including Canadian dairy and lumber, on April 2.
    In polls conducted just before the campaign started, the Liberals and official opposition Conservatives were effectively tied.
    The results indicate the Liberals would win the most seats, and potentially form a majority government, since their support is concentrated in the eastern half of the country where there are more seats up for grabs.
    (Production: Wa Lone, Kyaw Soe Oo, Pavithra George)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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