Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has issued a defiant four word put-down following a phone call with US President Donald Trump. The details of a previous private conversation between the two leaders included talks of making Canada the US’s 51st state.

Mr Carney and Mr Trump spoke on March 28 where the US President "brought it up" again, much to the Canadian Prime Minister’s dismay. "The President brings this up all the time. He brought it up yesterday. He brought it up before," Carney said at a Thursday campaign press conference. Speaking to reporters, Mr Carney emphasised that "this is not news", adding that Mr Trump "has these things in his mind". However, he stood firm in his position, claiming "it will never happen".

He continued: "To be clear, as I've said to anyone who's raised this issue in private or in public, including the President, it will never happen."

On Monday, Canada will hold elections which will be heavily influenced by the party leaders' response to Donald Trump’s bid for the 51st state, and their response to his tariffs.

Earlier this week, Mr Trump said he had spoken with Mr Carney multiple times where they engaged in "a couple of very nice conversations". He added: "But I don't think it's appropriate for me to get involved in their election."

President Trump has imposed a 25% tariff on goods imported to the US from Canada. He also hit his northern neighbour with levies on steel, aluminium and vehicles.

Upon placing the tariffs on Canadian-made automobiles in March, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre said he was "condemning, without equivocation, the unjustified and unprovoked tariffs that President Trump has now announced against our auto sector".

Both Mr Poliviere and the Liberal leader Mr Carney are aiming to convince voters that their party is the best choice to navigate and address the trade war with President Trump.

Currently polling suggests the Liberal Party is slightly in the lead over the Conservatives, according to a CBC News poll tracker.