Former Governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, Mark Carney, has won the race for Canadian Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal Party, succeeding Justin Trudeau. Carney decisively defeated three competitors and will lead the Liberal Party into the next general election in the coming weeks.
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03-10, 2025In his victory speech, Carney strongly criticized U.S. President Donald Trump, who had previously launched a trade war against Canada and expressed a desire to turn Canada into the 51st state of the United States. "We are in dark times, and it stems from a country we no longer trust," Carney stated, emphasizing the need for Canada to assert its own identity and interests.
Carney has never held any elected office, and he takes office at a time when Canada is facing profound instability. The leadership race began in January after Trudeau's resignation. Trudeau faced internal pressure to resign due to extreme voter dissatisfaction with him, signaling a shift in the Canadian political landscape.
In the first round of voting on Sunday night, Carney secured a decisive 85.9% of the vote, defeating his closest competitor, former Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland. He is expected to be sworn in as Prime Minister in the coming days and will lead a minority government in Parliament, requiring him to build consensus and navigate complex political dynamics.
Many of Sunday's speeches focused on the Trump administration's threat to impose what Carney called "illegitimate tariffs" on Canada, the United States' largest trading partner. "He is attacking Canadian workers, families, and businesses," Carney said, eliciting loud boos from the crowd. "We cannot let him get away with it." Carney stated that his government would continue to impose tariffs on U.S. imports "until the Americans show us respect," highlighting the importance of a reciprocal and fair trade relationship.
Carney also pledged to "secure our borders," a key demand from Trump during the tariff standoff. The U.S. President was even mentioned in Carney's attack on his main opponent, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre. "Pierre Poilievre's plan will divide us and prepare us for conquest," Carney said. "Because someone who worships Donald Trump will kneel before him instead of standing up to him," underscoring the stark contrast in their approaches to dealing with the United States.
Former central banker Carney is pursuing a broad centrist agenda, a departure from Trudeau's move to push the Liberal Party to the left. Carney praised his predecessor's "strength and compassion as a champion for Canada." Carney's key promises include advancing major energy projects, such as pipeline projects that have faced political obstacles in recent years. He also pledged to make significant investments in housing and clean energy projects, ease trade within Canada, and diversify trade, reducing dependence on the United States, aiming for a more resilient and self-sufficient Canadian economy.
