Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that a federal election will be held on April 28th instead of the original date of October 20th. The election will showcase a compelling contest between Liberal Party leader Mark Carney and Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre. Carney is a former governor of the Bank of Canada and was elected as party leader on March 9th, while Poilievre is a former minister of democratic reform. On April 19th, Nanos Research reported a national poll where Liberals were leading at 43.2% while Conservatives were behind at 37%. However, it is unclear whether this will translate to the Liberal party securing a majority of 172 of the 343 seats in Parliament, and if not, they may have to form a coalition with the Conservatives. Even 20 days before the voting day, over 130,000 Canadians had already cast their ballots, indicating high interest among the public. There has also been growing global attention on the election, as its outcome can impact the country’s relationship with the United States (U.S.) President Donald Trump administration’s foreign policy. Trump has previously referred to Canada as the “51st state of the U.S.” and has imposed import tariffs. According to an analysis by Scotiabank Canada, 77% of Canada’s exports depend on the U.S., meaning a higher tariff would severely impact the Canadian economy. If Carney wins the election, he will likely counter Trump’s tariff threats, while Poilievre will likely negotiate with the U.S. to resolve the issue. With Trump as an important variable, the focus is now on Canada’s election and its strategic response to what might evolve into a trade war.