Liberals tells press election near, opposition parties raring to go

Public Works Minister Jean-Yves Duclos on Monday told reporters a federal election call is imminent.

Leaders of all opposition parties have all indicated readiness.

“The opposition parties have been very clear for weeks and months now,” said Duclos, according to Blacklock’s Reporter.

“They decided they would bring this government down regardless of what we could do.”

Acknowledging Parliament is currently suspended until Monday, March 24 at 2 p.m.

“So this is the last day we can be in government,” said Duclos.

“We’ll see whether we should call an election before.”

“How quickly would you like to see an election?” asked a reporter.

“We know the deadline is March 24,” replied Duclos.

Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet said his party could run a campaign on a moment’s notice.

“If Mr. Carney was to call an election in the coming minutes, let’s wait, we are ready,” he said.

“Let’s go.”

“What’s the strategy for dealing with Mr. Carney?” asked a reporter.

“I never have any strategy,” replied Blanchet.

NDP leader Jagmeet Singh said his party was also prepared.

“I am ready to go tomorrow if that’s what Mark Carney decides,” he said.

“We are going to go. We are going to fight.”

“I am looking forward to a well-funded campaign. We are ready to go.”

Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre on Monday said he would hold the new Liberal leader to account for his record in finance.

“It’s ironic,” Poilievre told reporters.

“Mr. Carney is trying to distract from his many scandals and conflicts of interest as well as his disastrous record as Justin Trudeau’s economic advisor by talking about Trump. He’s the guy who sold out to Trump.”

“Six days after Donald Trump threatened Canada with tariffs to steal our jobs, Mark Carney announced to Brookfield shareholders that he would move his headquarters from Canada to New York.”

“And when you asked him about it, he lied to your face.”

“We got it in writing and we proved it. He sold out Canada. He put his profit ahead of our people and he did exactly what Donald Trump wanted. Never before have we had a prime minister so conflicted and compromised and yet so little scrutinized.”

Carney as chair of Brookfield Asset Management onDecember 1 signed a Letter To Shareholders that recommended the multinational move its head office from Toronto to Manhattan. Relocating to the United States was “in the best interests of Brookfield,” he wrote.

Conservatives released the letter after Carney denied playing any role in the Brookfield move when questioned by reporters February 25.

“Did you approve the decision?” asked a reporter.

“I resigned all my positions because I am all in for Canada,” replied Carney.

The prime minister-designate has yet to explain the Letter To Shareholders. Carney has also declined to comment on his corporate investments as a former director and executive with numerous firms including Bloomberg, L.P., Goldman Sachs, Pacific Investment Management Co. and Stripe.com.

“You know what I find interesting about Mark Carney?” Poilievre asked.

“He doesn’t want to take responsibility for the things he actually did like advising Trudeau for the last five years, but he wants to take credit for things he did not do.”