Mark Carney Canada Prime Minister : Former banker Mark Carney secured 86% of the votes to become the leader of Canada’s ruling party. The 59-year-old will replace Justin Trudeau as prime minister following Trudeau’s resignation after nine years in office.
Carney asserted that he was the most qualified to handle trade negotiations with US President Donald Trump, stating he would maintain retaliatory tariffs until “the Americans show us respect.
Succeeds Justin Trudeau after his resignation
Former central banker Mark Carney has emerged victorious as the new leader of Canada’s ruling Liberal Party and is set to succeed Justin Trudeau as prime minister, according to official results.
Carney steps into leadership during a challenging period, with Canada embroiled in a trade war with its longtime ally, the United States, and an upcoming general election on the horizon.
The 59-year-old secured 86% of the votes, defeating former finance minister Chrystia Freeland in a race with nearly 152,000 party members casting their ballots.
After more than nine years in office, Justin Trudeau announced his resignation in January following a sharp decline in approval ratings, prompting the ruling Liberal Party to hold a swift leadership contest.
Despite being a political newcomer, Mark Carney claimed he was the best candidate to revitalize the party and manage trade negotiations with US President Donald Trump, whose proposed tariffs threaten to destabilize Canada’s export-driven economy.
“Someone is trying to weaken our economy,” Carney stated. “Donald Trump has imposed unjustified tariffs on what we produce, what we sell, and how we earn a living.
He’s targeting Canadian families, workers, and businesses — and we cannot allow him to succeed,” Carney declared.
“We will maintain retaliatory tariffs until the United States treats us with respect.
Carney is no stranger to handling crises, having led the Bank of Canada and, in 2013, becoming the first non-citizen to head the Bank of England since its establishment in 1694.
His leadership earned bipartisan acclaim in the UK, especially after Canada’s swift recovery from the 2008 financial crisis, outpacing many other nations.
Canada will never, ever be part of America
At the beginning of 2025, the ruling party lagged behind by over 20 points, but recent polls show them neck and neck with the opposition Conservatives, led by veteran politician Pierre Poilievre.
On Sunday, during a protest outside Canada’s Parliament in Ottawa, demonstrators held signs opposing Trump, with no mention of domestic politics.
Trump’s trade war and comments about turning Canada into the 51st US state have sparked outrage across the country.
Canadian fans have been booing the American national anthem at NHL and NBA games, while many are canceling trips to the US and choosing to avoid American products whenever possible.
“America is not Canada,” Carney asserted. “And Canada will never, under any circumstances, become part of America.”
Rally-around-the-flag moment
Richard Johnston, a politics professor at the University of British Columbia, described the current political shift as an unexpected “rally-around-the-flag moment.
“A year ago, no one would have predicted this,” he said. “At this point, it seems the Liberals have narrowly escaped political collapse.”
After decades of stable bilateral relations, the upcoming election is set to revolve around who can best navigate Canada’s relationship with the United States.
Polls suggest that neither the Liberals nor the Conservatives are on track to secure a majority government. An election must take place by October 20, though two Liberal Party insiders revealed that Carney might call for an early vote in the coming weeks.
While Carney can legally serve as prime minister without a seat in the House of Commons, tradition suggests he should aim to win one promptly.
In a recent ad, the Liberals drew parallels between Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre and Donald Trump — prompting Poilievre to intensify his criticism of Carney on Sunday.
Leave a Reply