Hello, welcome to Politics Insider, election edition. There are 24 days until voting day. Let’s look at what happened today.
Pierre Poilievre says Canada, under a Conservative government, would make its own, sovereign decisions on increasing military spending, in a response to U.S. pressure on NATO allies to boost defence budgets to 5 per cent of gross domestic product.
“We’re going to make our own decisions on exactly how much we spend. We’re going to make our own decisions about our military,” Mr. Poilievre said, speaking to reporters during a Quebec campaign stop today.
Canada now spends about 1.37 per cent of its annual economic output on defence and has pledged to reach 2 per cent by 2030.
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, attending a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels this week, declined to say whether she thought Canada could increase military expenditures to reach the 5-per-cent target, which was raised by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Meanwhile, Liberal Leader Mark Carney defended his understanding of Western Canada, and described Reform Party founder Preston Manning’s recent warnings of Western separatism as dramatic and unhelpful.
Carney addressed the matter at a news conference in Montreal where he pledged to provide CBC/Radio-Canada with an additional $150-million a year in funding to improve its services.
Open this photo in gallery:
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre speaks during a campaign event in Trois-Rivières, Que., on April 4.ANDREJ IVANOV/AFP/Getty Images
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Elsewhere on the campaign trail
Canada poised to fill some of rare earths void, as China curbs U.S. exports in retaliation to Trump tariffs: As part of its retaliation against the United States trade war, China is imposing even more export controls on minerals used in strategic industries.
Canada sheds 33,000 jobs in March as trade war rattles labour market: Job declines were widespread across industries, and concentrated in full-time positions and private sector employment, Statistics Canada reported today.
In Manitoba’s Wheat City, uncertainty over tariffs is causing frustration for everyone: Standing outside his home on the eastern edge of Brandon Hills in Manitoba, Ian Grossart is trying not to panic. He has no idea what comes next for the grain and cattle farm he runs with Linda, his wife, and their son, Zach.
Former Liberal candidate seeks Independent seat in Edmonton after being ousted by party: A former Alberta NDP representative says he’s running as an Independent candidate in the federal election after he was booted from Mark Carney’s Liberal banner.
On our election radar
Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet campaigned in the Montreal suburbs of Châteauguay and Vaudreuil-Dorion. He also held a news conference.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre held a news conference today in the Quebec city of Trois Rivières. On Saturday, he was scheduled to hold a news conference in the B.C. town of Osoyoos and a rally in the city of Penticton. On Sunday, he’s holding a news conference in Vancouver.
Green Party Leader Elizabeth May is campaigning in the B.C. riding of Saanich-Gulf Islands where she is seeking re-election, and also attending an opera night event in the riding of North Island – Powell River. Meanwhile, her Co-Leader Jonathan Pedneault is campaigning in the Montreal riding of Outremont that he is aiming to win.
Liberal Leader Mark Carney, in Montreal, promised a $150-million budget increase for CBC/Radio-Canada, then travelled to the Toronto-area suburb of Woodbridge to tour an auto-manufacturing plant. He was also scheduled to hold a rally in the Toronto district of Scarborough.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, in Montreal, made an announcement in the borough of Verdun and visited a local business in the city. On Saturday, Singh is campaigning in St. John’s, and travelling to Halifax for a campaign event.
Question period
As he tries to lead the Liberals to a fourth term in government, Mark Carney is also trying to win a seat in the House of Commons. He’s a candidate in the Ottawa-area riding of Nepean. What was the Liberal margin of victory in the riding in the 2021 election?
The riding was previously held by Chandra Arya, who was first elected in 2015 and had his Liberal nomination revoked last month. What was Arya’s margin of victory in the 2021 election?
Scroll to the bottom of this newsletter for the answer.
Perspectives
The urgency is upon us: We need to defend Canada
The world order is reverting to what it has been for almost all of the long arc of human history: a system in which strength and force, not values and rules, are once again the currency of international relations.
— General (Retired) Wayne Eyre served in the Canadian Armed Forces for 40 years, including as Canada’s chief of the defence staff from 2021 to 2024.
Pierre Poilievre spurned Brian Mulroney’s advice, and is paying the price
Shortly after winning the 2022 Conservative leadership race, Pierre Poilievre sought Brian Mulroney’s political counsel over an intimate dinner at Stornoway. The move seemed to signal the new Tory Leader’s willingness to reach out to moderates in the party who had supported Jean Charest in the leadership contest.
— Konrad Yakabuski, Columnist
Carney and Poilievre have very different ideas for a new deal with Trump
Liberal Leader Mark Carney and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre both now say they would launch negotiations immediately after the coming election, not just on trade but on the broad defence and security relationship, too.
— Campbell Clark, Chief Political Writer
Go deeper
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The answer to today’s question:
In 2021, Liberal candidate Chandra Arya won the riding with 45.1 per cent of the vote. The Conservatives came second with 33 per cent. The NDP was third with 16.4 per cent of the vote.
