Canadians voted on Monday to elect their next Prime Minister as the country confronts a renewed wave of tensions with the United States, fueled by President Donald Trump’s threats of annexation and a continuing trade war. On election day itself, Trump’s comments sparked outrage across Canada, with political leaders from all major parties rebuking his statements.

As of the latest projections from CTV News and CBC, Prime Minister Mark Carney’s ruling Liberal Party is expected to retain power by forming a minority government. Liberals were either leading or elected in 155 out of the 343 seats contested. A majority requires 172 seats. The Conservative Party, led by Pierre Poilievre, trailed with 149 seats. The Bloc Québécois, under Yves-François Blanchet, is projected to win 26 seats, while Jagmeet Singh’s New Democratic Party (NDP) was ahead in 11 constituencies.

Led by newly appointed Prime Minister Mark Carney, the Liberal Party managed a surprising comeback. The 2025 election was highly anticipated as a potential turning point, especially after Carney replaced Justin Trudeau just a month ago. Initially, the Conservatives had been heavily favored, leading the Liberals by over 20 points after Trudeau’s resignation announcement on January 6. However, widespread nationalistic sentiment in response to Trump’s election day rhetoric significantly shifted the momentum in favor of the Liberals.

According to CBC’s final poll aggregator update on Sunday, the Liberals had gained 42.8% of the national vote share compared to the Conservatives' 39.2%. The performance of the Bloc Québécois and the NDP also played a crucial role, with stronger-than-expected showings by both parties limiting the number of seats won by either of the two major parties. Election day in Canada, a country spanning six time zones, saw the final polling stations in the western provinces closing by 7:00 PM local time. With almost 29 million eligible voters out of a population of 41 million, Canada also saw a record turnout in early voting, with 7.3 million Canadians casting advance ballots.

Monday’s vote unfolded in a tense atmosphere, shadowed by the tragic incident at a Vancouver street fair over the weekend, which led to a temporary halt in campaigning by all parties. While the Liberals are projected to govern with a minority, the results represent one of the most remarkable political turnarounds in modern Canadian history. If the final results confirm the projections, Carney will lead a minority government needing the cooperation of smaller parties like the NDP or Bloc Québécois to pass legislation.

The final days of the campaign were dominated by Trump’s inflammatory statements suggesting that Canada should become the 51st U.S. state. Trump falsely claimed that the United States subsidizes Canada and openly implied that annexation was on the table. His remarks were widely condemned by leaders across Canada’s political spectrum. Pierre Poilievre, who had earlier been accused of being too soft on Trump, responded strongly on election day. Posting on X, Poilievre said, "President Trump, stay out of our election. Canada will always be proud, sovereign and independent and we will NEVER be the 51st state."

Mark Carney echoed a similar sentiment, stating, "This is Canada and we decide what happens here." Despite being new to electoral politics and holding office for less than a month, Carney’s leadership style and strong responses to Trump’s provocations appear to have resonated with Canadian voters seeking stability and national pride. Throughout the campaign, both Carney and Poilievre promised that, if elected, they would prioritize renegotiating a new free trade deal with the United States to counter the uncertainty caused by the escalating trade disputes.

The 2025 Canadian federal election results underline the complexity of modern Canadian politics. Though the Liberals did not win an outright majority, their ability to retain power amid daunting odds marks a new chapter for the country. Moving forward, Carney’s immediate challenges will include managing strained relations with the United States, tackling domestic economic pressures, and navigating the dynamics of a minority parliament. The coming weeks will be critical for Carney as he builds alliances and sets the agenda for his government, promising Canadians a resilient and independent future.