Carney says Trump key issue in Canada’s election, while Conservative rival says country needs change

TORONTO AP Prime Minister Mark Carney revealed Wednesday who is best to deal with U S President Donald Trump is the key question in Canada s voting process while his Conservative rival argued Carney doesn t represent change after a decade of Liberal Party rule Opposition Conservative Pierre Poilievre mentioned during the French-language leaders debate Canada demands change and Carney is just like his predecessor Justin Trudeau Mr Poilievre is not Justin Trudeau I m not Justin Trudeau either In this electoral contest the question is who is going to face Mr Trump Carney mentioned Trump s contract war and threats to make Canada the st state have infuriated Canadians and led to a surge in Canadian nationalism that has bolstered Liberal Party poll numbers ahead of the April vote Poilievre is imploring Canadians not to give the Liberals a fourth term He hoped to make the balloting a referendum on Trudeau whose popularity declined toward the end of his decade in power as food and housing prices rose and immigration surged But Trump attacked Trudeau resigned and Carney a two-time central banker became Liberal party leader and prime minister after a party leadership race We need change You do not embody change Poilievre stated to Carney Bloc Qu b cois Yves-Fran ois Blanche whose party is losing aid to Carney s Liberals in Quebec agreed saying the Liberals are the same party the same ministers and the same lawmakers and a new leader does not change that But population opinion has changed In a mid-January poll by Nanos Liberals trailed the Conservative Party by to In the latest Nanos poll disclosed Wednesday the Liberals led by percentage points The January poll had a margin of error points while the latest poll had a -point margin The French debate was moved up by two hours to minimize a conflict with a Montreal Canadiens hockey encounter The NHL group faced off against the Carolina Hurricanes at p m ET in a meeting that could clinch them a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs This isn t the first time NHL hockey has elbowed its way onto the campaign trail During the polling former Bloc leader Gilles Duceppe sought for a debate to be postponed due to a Canadiens hockey competition and his request was granted The English language debate is Thursday evening Source