Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters on the final weekend before national elections that he takes seriously the president's stated desire to turn the country into a US state. He said "Take what the president says literally.

Carney, who recently succeeded Liberal Justin Trudeau as prime minister, has called snap elections for April 28, in what is seen as a major test of how far attitudes have changed toward the previously clear favorite, Poilievre, who has been compared ideologically to President Donald Trump.