After Liberal resurgence, a shot at greater global role

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney completed a comeback victory for the governing Liberals in Monday's elections, positioning himself for a global role as a champion of multilateralism against US President Donald Trump's more protectionist policies.

- Reuters

OTTAWA:

"Canada is ready to take a leadership role in building a coalition of like-minded countries who share our values," Carney said on April 3 in Ottawa. "We believe in international cooperation. We believe in the free and open exchange of goods, services and ideas. And if the United States no longer wants to lead, Canada will."

Australia holds an election on May 3, and the major parties have closely watched the polling surge towards Carney, Australian political strategists said. As in Canada, voter concern over the global fallout from Trump's policies has tilted support towards the centre-left Labour Party. Former Canadian diplomat Colin Robertson, who knew Carney when he worked at the Finance Ministry, said Carney is Canada's best-equipped prime minister since the 1960s, given his experience leading the Bank of England and Bank of Canada.

"He goes in extremely well-prepared, with a superb Rolodex, and people will take his call and look to him because their challenges are economic right now," he said. Carney will likely start by expanding Canadian trade with Europe, Australia and Asian democracies such as Japan, Robertson said, blunting some of the economic damage from newly imposed US tariffs on cars, steel and aluminium.