Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney (Photo: AP)

Carney said he has asked Governor General Mary Simon to dissolve Parliament to pave the way for the election, and she has agreed. The announcement comes amid tensions between Canada and the US over trade issues and controversial remarks from US President Donald Trump, who has expressed a desire to annex Canada as a US state.

“We are facing the most significant crisis of our lifetimes because of President Trump’s unjustified trade actions. Our response must be to build a strong economy and a more secure Canada.”

Prime Minister Carney is not a sitting member of Parliament, and his government is a minority administration, making it difficult to implement major policies over opposition resistance.

Recent public opinion polls indicate that the ruling party has now caught up with the opposition Conservative Party—a dramatic shift from just two months ago, when the Conservatives had a double-digit lead.