How will Carney contend with a minority — and what kind of Parliament do MPs want?

In his first news conference since Monday’s election, Prime Minister Mark Carney did not shy away from some of the rhetoric and ambition that carried him through the campaign. Canada, he said, would be embarking on the biggest transformation of the economy since the end of the Second World War. The old relationship with the United States was over, and the government would be addressing the failures of the housing market by unleashing the power of public-private cooperation at a scale not seen in generations.

“Now is the time for ambition, to be bold, to meet this crisis with the overwhelming, positive force of a united Canada,” Carney concluded.

However, with a minority Parliament, one of the biggest questions now is how the new prime minister and the new House of Commons will deal with each other. Despite the election results giving the Liberals the second-largest minority government in history, Carney will have to find ways to work with opposition parties to pass legislation and govern effectively.

During his press conference, Carney emphasized his focus on building Canada’s economy and plans to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump next week. He also mentioned that King Charles would be in Canada for the upcoming speech from the throne.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, on the other hand, tried to spin the election results as a victory for his party, claiming that the Liberals had been held to a “razor-thin minority government.” However, the Liberals won 169 of the 343 seats in the House, which is not as slim of a margin as Poilievre suggested.

Although the Liberals have multiple routes to secure the votes necessary to pass legislation, they will still need to collaborate with opposition parties to achieve their goals. While Carney has stated that he is not interested in a formal agreement with the New Democrats, there may still be opportunities for cooperation on certain issues.

In a show of goodwill, Carney pledged to trigger a byelection as soon as possible to allow Poilievre to regain a seat in Parliament. This gesture could be a way to demonstrate Carney’s commitment to working constructively with the opposition and to be seen as a serious leader during this critical time for Canada.

Carney’s argument for all parties to find a way to make Parliament work is grounded in the idea that Canada is facing a once-in-a-lifetime crisis that requires a sufficient response. By emphasizing the need for unity and collaboration, Carney hopes to show the electorate that political leaders can put aside their differences and work together for the greater good.

While minority parliaments often face challenges and can come to an early end, the stakes are high in the current political climate. With Canada’s sovereignty and democracy under attack, the country may benefit from leaders across party lines coming together to address the pressing issues facing the nation.