‘Of course we’re not’: Carney says federal government not considering snap election

Prime Minister Mark Carney on the idea of a spring election following his Groceries and Essentials Benefit announcement in Ottawa.

Prime Minister Mark Carney says his government “focused on results for Canadians,” and is not considering a snap election.

On Monday, Carney announced a boost to the GST credit, as part of a suite of new affordability measures, in a grocery-store press conference reminiscent of election-time campaign stops.

Longtime cabinet minister and former deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland also resigned her seat last month, in order to take on an economic adviser position for the Ukrainian government.

Carney will soon have to call a byelection to replace her in the House of Commons, and other byelections could be coming up amid speculation of other seat vacancies.

Two Conservative MPs crossed the floor to the Liberals in the fall, while another announced he’ll resign this spring, shaking up the party dynamics in the House.

As it currently stands, Carney’s Liberals are just two seats shy of a majority government.

“What we’re focused on is solutions for Canadians,” Carney told reporters on Monday in Ottawa, when asked directly whether he’s considering calling a snap election this spring.

He said the Liberals will be tabling the necessary legislation for Monday’s announcement “very soon,” and pointed to the Budget Implementation Act, the middle-class tax cut, an extension of the National School Food Program, and new crime legislation as examples of agenda items he plans to focus on in the coming months.

“All of that is an opportunity for the collaboration that’s referenced by the leader of the opposition,” Carney said. “And this government is going to work hard, as we did in the fall, as we did last spring, in order to get legislation through the House.”

When pressed on the similarities between Monday’s announcement and a campaign stop — and asked explicitly whether a writ drop could happen in the next couple months — Carney said: “You can’t draw that conclusion at all.”

“Of course we’re not,” he added, speaking specifically to whether he’s considering a spring election. “We’re not.”

“We’re working through Parliament to get results for Canadians,” he added. “We are securing trade deals around the world for Canadians, for the future of Canadians.”

Carney also said his government has “the privilege of a mandate from Canadians.”

The House of Commons returns Monday after a six-week winter break.

Speaking to reporters on Parliament Hill on Monday, Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon also pushed back against election speculation, saying he thinks “this Parliament can work.”

“I think Canadians expressed themselves only last April on the Carney plan to diversify trade markets, to create opportunities to attract a trillion dollars of investment and to make life more affordable,” MacKinnon said, adding “unless (Conservative Leader) Mr. (Pierre) Poilievre continues with his obstruction, there’s no way that plan should not receive the approval of this Parliament.”

On his way into the first question period of 2026 on Monday, Conservative House Leader Andrew Scheer was also asked whether his party is preparing for a spring election.

“Look, we respect the mandate that the Canadians made, and in the last election,” he said. “We’ve signaled areas where Liberals have adopted Conservative ideas, or at least paid lip service to those proposals, that we will work to ensure their passage.”

“That’s all I have to say on that,” he added.

With files from CTV News’ Stephanie Ha