Canada election results live updates: Trump congratulates Carney even as White House repeats ‘51st state’ taunt

White House spokesperson Anna Kelly has said the Canadian election “does not affect president [Donald] Trump’s plan to make Canada America’s cherished 51st state”.

Mr Trump has repeatedly called on Canada to join the US as the 51st state, which has triggered a new wave of anti-American sentiment in Canada reminiscent of the War of 1812.

“I say it would make a great 51st state. I love other nations. I love Canada,” Mr Trump told The Atlantic.

“You know, they do 95 per cent of their business with us. Remember, if they’re a state, there’s no tariffs,” he added.

Canadian prime minister Mark Carney told the BBC that his country deserves respect from the US and will enter trade and security talks with Mr Trump only “on our terms”.

Mr Trump congratulated Mr Carney on his election win and both leaders have agreed to meet in the near future, according to the Canadian prime minister’s office.

Just months ago, Canada’s Conservatives were leading the polls, surfing the wave of radical right ideas and rhetoric sweeping across the globe.

But with the election victory of Mark Carney’s Liberal Party, Canada now stands out as a liberal anchor in a fractured West.

This election may not only shape Canada’s domestic trajectory, but also carry significant implications for its international partnerships amid rising geopolitical uncertainty.

As some European countries and the United States head towards isolationism, authoritarianism and turn to the East – even flirting with Russia – Canada’s continued Liberal leadership reinforces its position as a key ally for the European Union. Mr Carney’s centrist and pro-EU attitude provides stability and relief for Europeans.

Katerina Sviderska and Leandre Benoit write.

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi congratulated Liberal Party leader Mark Carney on being re-elected as prime minister of Canada.

“India and Canada are bound by shared democratic values, a steadfast commitment to the rule of law, and vibrant people-to-people ties,” Mr Modi said on X.

“I look forward to working with you to strengthen our partnership and unlock greater opportunities for our people.”

Diplomatic ties between India and China last year plummeted after the Canadian government, led by Justin Trudeau, accused New Delhi of being involved in the killing of a Canadian citizen.

The New Democratic Party (NDP), which had entered the election race with 24 seats, will emerge with only seven, subsequently losing official party status.

Don Davies, who won Vancouver Kingsway, told CTV that the number of seats required for official party status is “arbitrary” and “everything’s negotiable in politics”.

For a party to retain official party status in Canada, it must hold at least 12 seats.

Mr Davies said NDP’s representation in the parliament was critical and that he would meet with his colleagues to present a proposal once the House starts its new sitting.

“When you have official party status, you get question period time, you get a seat at committee tables, and you also get some resources,” he added.

NDP chief Jagmeet Singh on Tuesday resigned from his post after failing to retain his seat in the election.

More than 68 per cent of Canada’s eligible voters cast their ballots in this general election, in what appears to be the highest turnout since 1993.

Elections Canada said that 19,591,257 ballots had been counted as of Tuesday evening, which was about more than 99 per cent of the polls.

The turnout is reportedly the highest since the 1993 elections, which saw a turnout of 69.6 per cent.

During the previous election in 2021, at least 62.6 per cent of eligible voters cast their ballots.

Mark Carney spoke with US president Donald Trump about deepening defence and commercial ties between both nations, just hours after the Liberal party won the Canadian general election.

The two leaders agreed to meet in person in the near future, Globe and Mail reported, citing Mr Carney’s office.

“President Trump congratulated prime minister Carney on his recent election,” according to the summary of the call between the two leaders.

“The leaders agreed on the importance of Canada and the United States working together – as independent, sovereign nations – for their mutual betterment.”

With the results of the Canadian election in, here’s what happens next:

Having won re-election, Mark Carney remains prime minister and does not need to be sworn in again.

He will reportedly name a cabinet and reconvene Canada’s House of Commons within two weeks, before addressing his campaign promises. Another priority will be the annual budget, which is usually presented in March or April.

The Conservative Party and Pierre Poilievre will have to figure out how to move forward, with the leader having lost his own seat.

The leader of the New Democrat Party Jagmeet Singh also lost his seat, and the party dropped down to a single-digit seat count for the first time in more than 30 years. CBC predicts the NDP will be looking at a complete overhaul.

Liberal-elect Bruce Fanjoy has said that always knew that beating Pierre Poilievre in his own riding was possible.

Fanjoy got more than 50 per cent of the vote in the Ottawa-area riding of Carleton where he was up against the leader of the Conservative party.

Poilievre had held the area down for more than 20 years, winning seven consecutive elections, according to CBC.

Speaking to Power & Politics, Fanjoy said he worked in the riding for two years, “knocked on thousands of doors, [and] had thousands and thousands of conversations” with constituents there.

“And I got a good sense as to the mood of the riding,” Fanjoy said. “In that time, Pierre was largely absent … and people felt taken for granted.”