Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered a fiery speech on Monday at the Vancouver suborb of Richmon in British Columbia in his first rally in the lower mainland since calling early elections.
Although the energy in the rally was nothing like that of his rival Pierre Poilievre's event in the Vancouver area just over a week earlier, the newly installed Liberal Party leader wowed his supporters with a promise to stand firm against US President Donald Trump in an escalating trade war. Addressing a lively crowd, Carney didn't mince words, declaring Canada's readiness to fight back with retaliatory tariffs designed to inflict "maximum damage" on the US economy. "I wasn't joking," he said, quipping that his seriousness was demonstrated by sending Ontario Premier Doug Ford to fight back.
Carney's remarks came as he framed the upcoming election as a defining moment for the nation. "This is the most important election," he told the audience, emphasizing the stakes amid tensions with the US. When Trump's name came up, the crowd erupted in boos – a sentiment Carney seized on. One supporter shouted, "You can handle him," prompting a confident reply from the PM, "We will handle him." He even took a jab at Trump's age, quipping, "I don't think that at 78 we can change him," drawing laughter from the room.
The prime minister, who replaced Justin Trudeau as party leader and prime minister after the latter had to step down due to dismal ratings after 10 years of economic hardships, reflected on the strained relationship with the US, saying, "We are over the betrayal." He underscored Canada's resolve, noting, "We didn't ask for this fight, but Canadians are always ready for a fight when someone drops the gloves – in trade wars just like in hockey, we will win." The hockey reference struck a chord, reinforcing his call for national unity against external pressure.
In a lighter moment, Carney's wife, Diana Fox Carney, stole the spotlight with a humorous anecdote. She recalled telling "the man that I was dining with" – meaning Carney – that she was ready to move to Canada, only to realize he needed to brush up on romance. The crowd roared with laughter as she praised his tenacity, saying, "Faced with a challenge, he hits the ground running – second to none." Carney later embraced her on stage.
Carney has come under criticism as of late for not various gaffes in French, one of Canada's official languages. When he started speaking French at the rally on Monday, a supporter shouted, "Your French is great." Carney chuckled and responded in French, "This is my teacher," pointing playfully at the man, causing roars of laughter.
A former Alberta Cree Nation chief who attended the event with his wife Ruth expressed strong support for Liberal candidate while revealing ambitious plans for an indigenous consortium to purchase the Trans Mountain pipeline from the federal government.
Joe disclosed that First Nations from British Columbia and Alberta are working to acquire the recently completed Trans Mountain pipeline expansion (TMX), a project valued at "22 plus billion dollars."
"We hope to buy that as soon as he forms government," Joe said, referring to Carney. Joe cited his deep historical ties to the Liberal Party, noting he had worked with former prime minister Pierre Trudeau on constitutional matters decades ago, culminating with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms that made Canada an independent country with guaranteed civil liberties.
"I worked with Pierre Trudeau when he was prime minister to repatriate the Canadian Constitution from England to Canada, 1981-82," Joe explained. "I knew his son Justin. Of course, I supported him. So I've been a Liberal all my life."
Joe offered a detailed rationale for his support of Carney: "I like Mark Carney because he's a banker. He has a lot of experience in this, especially for the times we need a leader who knows economics. He was a bank governor of Canada. He's a bank governor of England, of Britain. And he dealt with two crises, the financial crisis of 2008 and then, of course, the Brexit crisis."
The former chief highlighted Carney's connections to the business world and non-partisan background, noting that former Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper had appointed Carney as Bank of Canada governor. "In fact, Stephen Harper asked him to be, asked him to come, to become the minister of finance, but he turned that down," Joe added.
When challenged about the Liberal government's economic record over the past decade, Joe defended the Trudeau administration, particularly its decision to purchase the pipeline.
"The Liberals have been more on the social side of things, and that's just Justin Trudeau. He was more for social issues than for economic, but he actually bought the pipeline for Canada," Joe said, explaining that this visionary move now looks like a brilliant move since Canada's oil can be exported all over the world from BC's coast rather than go through the US and face newly imposed tariffs.
Video: Protesters clash with supporters in the rally / Credit: Erez Linn
The former First Nations leader explained the strategic importance of the pipeline, noting it allows Canadian oil to reach Asian markets through Vancouver. "We're not beholden to the US market as much now," he said.
Video: Carney's rally
Joe also praised the Trudeau government's record on indigenous issues, citing Bill C-69, which he said "basically guarantees First Nations a say in all these major projects that are being proposed, like pipelines."
Video: Carney's rally
Filipino Canadians share immigration journey from US to remote community
Reggie, Lisa and Caro arrived at the rally too. They detailed their challenging immigration experience and eventual move to Canada from both the Philippines and the United States.
"The system is broken, the immigration system, it really is," said the male partner, referring to the US "We were there for 12 years, 14 and not to brag, we both have massive degree[s] from the States. But there's always some technicality. We're really unlucky. We're applying for the Green Card like four times. And something would always [happen]."
The couple revealed they relocated to Canada in 2017, partly influenced by the political climate following Donald Trump's election, though they emphasized it wasn't "entirely" because of Trump.
Video: Protesters clash with supporters in the rally / Credit: Erez Linn
Reggie, an education professional, explained her immigration pathway: "I was a provincial nominee, so that made it much easier."
She described a surprisingly brief hiring process: "They called me up, and then just asked me three questions: Are you still available? When can you come? And can I call your references? After a few hours, I got the job," but not before being told that "there are bears in the community."
Video: Protesters clash with supporters in the rally / Credit: Erez Linn
Despite the remoteness of their new home in a community of approximately 800 people, the couple spoke positively about their Canadian experience. "My very first day, this guy came out and gave me some frozen salmon and jarred salmon that he had cooked. Very caring to me, very generous. Positive experience," the education professional recounted.
The couple also discussed healthcare access challenges in remote Canadian communities compared to their previous experiences. "We're super lucky. I'm in Canadian healthcare, but we live in a remote area. It's difficult getting a specialist," noted the husband, who compared this to their previous access to medical care in urban settings. "We were in the Philippines, in Manila, like yeah hospital," he added, suggesting better specialist access there.
They also shared experiences with wildlife, including a close encounter with a bear. "I was outside piling up some wooden food. Some wood facing the house, then next door, one of my students pointing behind me... it was a bear. So I just slowly walked into the house," the husband recalled, adding that bear attacks are rare in their community. "You've never heard of, any bear attacks up there. I think up there, people know they jump into the trash."
Liberal supporters express optimism for Carney amid concerns about political polarization
While waiting for the rally to get going, attendees discussed their hopes for the upcoming election, with several expressing renewed optimism about Carney's candidacy.
"A few months ago, my hopes were pretty much dashed [when Trudeau was still in power and the tariffs had not hit]. Then suddenly there's the new year. And we're like, there's a new guy. And he talks like that, and he has that background, and he walks in Canada," one mother and social studies teacher said.
Several rally-goers put Carney's candidacy in the context of global challenges, particularly the political situation in the United States. "I just feel like we really lucked out in this time; with Trump America, everything and that's presenting as issues to get somebody who's going to come visit so kind of regarded in the world, like it was the right person, the right time, Right I just feel like Carney is a gift," one supporter enthusiastically stated.
The conversations also captured frustrations about political polarization in Canada. "I used to love talking about politics, just like talk, but that that went on the window in the last few years," one person lamented. "Now it's just you try to present an awesome period that they call you mates, or they're screaming something we've seen at you, and it's like, and there's no reasoning. There's no reasoning that comes from their feelings."
Another attendee recounted a dispute with an American friend over the 2022 trucker protests in Ottawa during COVID. "She was asking me about our prime minister and why he shut down protesting. And I think that was disgusting, what he did. Oh, really. Why do you think it's disgusting, right? Well, he froze other bank accounts."
The Canadian defended the government's actions: "Do you know those protests were terrorizing Ottawa for weeks on end."
Carney may have the backing of the most voters, as polls show, owing to his unique ability to cast himself as the only antidote to Trump's tariff wars, but momentum is clearly on Poilievre's side. The rallies of the Conservative leader are bigger, much more energetic, and appear to be much more appealing to younger voters and men, judging from my attendance at both in the span of two weeks. But Carney has one thing going for him: Trump. And with no signs of the US letting down on its pressure, Poilievre might not have time to capitalize on the winds of change after what he calls "the wasted Liberal decade."
