Is Mark Carney considering a snap spring election? 'Of course we're not,' he says

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney said his government is not considering a federal election this spring as Parliament resumed on Monday.

“Of course we’re not,” he said, when asked by a reporter if he was thinking about going to the polls during a press conference in Ottawa. “We’re focused on results for Canadians.”

Carney made his comments during an affordability announcement at a grocery store in Ottawa, where his government announced a boost to the GST credit. Quarterly GST payments will see an increase of 25 per cent over the next five years and there will be a one-time top-up of 50 per cent this June.

“We have the privilege of a mandate from Canadians, ” Carney added. “We were very clear, when we ran in the last election, on what we intended to do, very detailed platform and we are delivering on that.”

Carney’s government remains in a minority Parliament, at just 170 seats, the Liberals are still two seats away from a majority.

Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon also attempted to shut down any notion that Liberals were angling for a snap election.

“I think this Parliament can work,” he told reporters on Monday. “I think Canadians expressed themselves only last April.”

MacKinnon also called on the Opposition Conservatives to support the government in helping pass its agenda.

“Mr. Poilievre has to get out of the way and allow his MPs to vote on an ambitious crime-fighting agenda, to vote on a plan to grow our economy and to vote on a plan to make life more affordable to Canadians,” he said.

More to come.

With files from Stephanie Taylor

National Post

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