Carney says projected Liberal win comes at ‘hinge point in history’

Liberal Leader Mark Carney will form government, Global News is projecting.

While votes are still being tallied in some parts of the country, it is unclear whether the Liberals will form a majority or minority government. Carney also won in his own riding of Nepean, Global News projects.

Carney said Canadians were standing at a “hinge moment” in history.

“We are once again at one of those hinge moments of history. Our old relationship with the United States – a relationship based on steadily increasing integration is over.”

“The system of open global trade anchored by the United States, a system that Canada has relied on since the Second World War, a system that -while not perfect — has helped deliver prosperity for a country for decades, is over,” he said.

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Carney spoke to supporters in Ottawa, laying out the threat from the U.S. as his top priority.

“America wants our land, our resources, our water, our country. These are not idle threats. President Trump is trying to break us so that America can own us. That will never ever happen,” he said.

Carney added, “We also must recognize the reality that our world has fundamentally changed.”

The Liberal leader warned that there were challenging days ahead.

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“We are over the shock of the American betrayal, but we should never forget the lessons,” he said.

He said his government would build economic strength in the times to come.

“We are going to build, baby, build.”

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The 37-day election campaign, the shortest possible time frame for an election campaign, was held under the economic threat posed to Canada by U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs and his threats to make Canada the 51st state. Carney spoke to Trump on the phone last month and both leaders agreed to meet after the Canadian election.

In his victory speech, Carney said that he would be meeting with Trump to hash out a trade deal.

“When I sit down with President Trump, it will be to discuss the future economic and security relationship between two sovereign nations. And it will be with our full knowledge that we have many, many other options than the United States to build prosperity for all Canadians. We will strengthen our relations with reliable partners in Europe, Asia and elsewhere,” he said.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre congratulated Carney on his projected victory.

“Canadians have opted for a razor-thin minority government, a virtual tie in the vote count. So, I would like to congratulate Prime Minister Carney on leading this minority government,” he said.

Poilievre added that his party would continue to hold the government to account but added that they would also work with the government when it came to combating Trump’s tariffs.

“Conservatives will work with the prime minister and all parties with the common goal of defending Canada’s interests and getting a new trade deal that puts these tariffs behind us while protecting our sovereignty and the Canadian people,” he said.

Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet won his Quebec riding of Beloeil-Chambly, Global News projects. Green Party co-leader Elizabeth May was re-elected in her Vancouver Island seat of Saanich-Gulf Islands.

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Several incumbent Liberals who were named to Prime Minister Mark Carney’s most recent cabinet before the election call are also projected to win their seats, including Chrystia Freeland, Francois-Philippe Champagne, Dominic LeBlanc, Steve McKinnon, Melanie Joly and Ginette Petitpas Taylor.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh conceded defeat in his riding of Burnaby Central and said he would be stepping down as leader of his party.

“I’ll be stepping down as party leader as soon as an interim leader can be appointed,” he said.

“It’s been the honour of my life to represent the people of Burnaby Central. Tonight, they chose a new member of Parliament, and I wish them well as they continue to work hard for this community,” Singh told supporters.

Singh also congratulated Carney.

“I want to take a moment to congratulate Prime Minister Carney on his victory. He has an important job to do to represent all Canadians and to protect our country and its sovereignty from the threats of Donald Trump,” he said.

Preliminary estimates released by Elections Canada on Tuesday showed 7.3 million voters cast their ballots at advance polls during the Easter long weekend, a 25 per cent increase from the 5.8 million early votes in the 2021 federal election.