About a thousand Calgarians lined up on Tuesday night to hear Liberal Leader Mark Carney speak, as the federal election campaign entered its third week. Read More
The rally comes as the leaders of Canada’s three main federal parties have been making the rounds in Western Canada during the third week of the campaign
The rally comes as the leaders of Canada’s three main federal parties have been making the rounds in Western Canada during the third week of the campaign
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About a thousand Calgarians lined up on Tuesday night to hear Liberal Leader Mark Carney speak, as the federal election campaign entered its third week.
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The rally, held at the Red and White Club at McMahon Stadium, marked Carney’s first stop in Alberta since the election was called on March 23. Supporters packed the venue, with an overflow crowd watching on screens.
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The Liberal leader’s speech echoed many sentiments from his last stop in Calgary during the Liberal leadership race in March. He blasted U.S. President Donald Trump and the imposition of tariffs on Canadian exports, while positioning Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre as being aligned with Trump.
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“We need to fight,” Carney said, warning: “Make no mistake, President Trump wants to break us so America can own us.”
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Carney leaned into his Alberta roots during his speech, recalling time spent playing hockey as a youth and his upbringing as the son of schoolteachers. “I owe everything to this province,” he said.
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Carney described recent tariffs and escalating U.S.-Canada trade tensions as “a tragedy, but … the new reality,” and emphasized the need for a unified Canadian economy.
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“We did not ask for this fight,” he said. “But as the Americans are gonna learn, Canadians are always ready when someone else drops the gloves.”
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The Liberal leader outlined a plan for Canada’s economy focused on national unity and economic sovereignty, emphasizing a goal to make Canada an “energy superpower” by working to fast-track projects that reduce reliance on foreign suppliers such as the U.S.
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“Alberta will be at the heart of all of these solutions,” he said.
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The rally also gave a boost to local campaigns, with supporters waving signs bearing the names of Calgary-area candidates who joined Carney on stage.
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“Mark Carney’s visit to Calgary speaks volumes about how he views Calgary’s importance to this election campaign,” said Calgary Heritage liberal candidate Scott Arnott. “He affirmed that importance when meeting with all the Calgary candidates before the rally.
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“We all recognize the momentum building in our Liberal campaign and sense the potential for a breakthrough on election night,” Arnott added.
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Calgary Skyview MP George Chahal, currently running in the newly formed Calgary McKnight, said local candidates have been working hard on the ground to deliver results.
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“We have a number of great candidates across the province and right here in Calgary, and I know many will be successful,” he said. “I know we will win more seats on April 28th.”