Carney attacked for wanting ‘free ride,’ ‘hiding’ from public amid latest campaign break

Two federal party leaders have taken aim at Mark Carney, who is currently leading in the polls for the upcoming April 28 election, for once again skipping the campaign trail. Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet accused the Liberal leader of trying to capitalize on his early momentum by coasting through the opening three weeks of the campaign. He alleged that the Liberals are intentionally trying to hide Carney as much as possible.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, echoing Blanchet’s sentiments, also accused Carney of “hiding again” and criticized him for not being more present on the campaign trail. Carney had paused his campaign for the third time to focus on his prime ministerial duties in response to trade-war turbulence. He held a meeting with his Canada-U.S. cabinet council and warned about signs of a global economic slowdown.

Despite not holding public events, Carney took to social media to share that he had spoken with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to the alliance. He also made statements about boosting defense spending and was quoted in a Liberal party news release regarding a new summer discount program for national parks.

Blanchet and Poilievre both criticized Carney for his limited public appearances, with Blanchet accusing him of trying to avoid scrutiny and Poilievre accusing him of trying to make Canadians forget about pressing issues like rising housing costs and increased food bank lineups. This campaign pause marked the third time Carney had interrupted his campaign to address tariff threats from the U.S.

Blanchet argued that Carney was overusing his prime ministerial powers by suspending his campaign more than necessary, especially considering the caretaker convention that advises against making significant decisions during an election period. However, constitutional expert Philippe Lagassé believes that Carney’s actions are appropriate given the urgency of the tariff issue and the lack of opposition disagreement with the government’s response.

While Carney has faced criticism for his campaign interruptions, other party leaders have also taken breaks from the campaign trail. Poilievre and Blanchet both made policy announcements on Saturday, with Poilievre focusing on supports for veterans and Blanchet demanding compensation for Quebec in light of the upcoming carbon tax rebate.

As the election date draws closer, the scrutiny on Carney’s campaign strategy continues, with opposing parties questioning his limited public appearances and focus on prime ministerial duties. The race for the April 28 election remains competitive, with each leader vying for the support of Canadian voters.