In the Westminster parliamentary system used in Canada, the legitimacy of an elected government hinges on its ability to command the confidence of the House of Commons. During an election period, the House is shut and so the prime minister cannot seek approval from the elected chamber.
Because of that, the prime minister and cabinet are directed by the convention to act with restraint, which means they shouldn't introduce big, new things or make changes that would be onerous for the next government to roll back.
This does not mean that the government is prevented from making decisions. Prime Minister Mark Carney still has the responsibility of ensuring the routine operation of the government continues and must also be able to respond to emergencies such as natural disasters, wars or economic crises.
[Former Clerk of the Privy Council Michael Wernick] says that deciding what must be done — and what should not be done — comes down to the judgment of the prime minister guided by tradition, such as ensuring government actions demonstrate respect for the democratic will of Canadians.
"There's no rule book to go to that would tell you exactly where that threshold is," Wernick said.
When it comes to responding to tariffs being imposed on Canada by the Trump administration, the prime minister and his cabinet have the power and authority they need to respond with retaliatory tariffs or help for workers.
I've liked what Carney has said outside of the campaign - in his meetings with European leaders, he's been talking about this new status quo we find ourselves in as a permanent change in the global order, rather than a four-year blip.
On the campaign trail? I can't say that he's been particularly inspiring so far.