Mark Carney elected as Canada’s new prime minister, succeeding Justin Trudeau

OTTAWA. Mark Carney, former governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, has been elected as the new leader of the ruling Liberal Party, officially securing his position as Canada’s next prime minister. Carney, 59, won the leadership race with a decisive 86% of votes, defeating former Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland in a contest that saw nearly 152,000 party members casting their ballots.

Carney’s leadership comes at a critical juncture for Canada, as the country faces escalating trade tensions with its longtime ally, the United States, under President Donald Trump. Additionally, a general election looms on the horizon, further intensifying political stakes.

Carney Criticizes Trump’s Trade Policies

During his victory speech, Carney took direct aim at Trump’s economic policies, drawing loud boos from the crowd.

“There’s someone who’s trying to weaken our economy,” Carney said, referring to Trump. “He’s attacking Canadian workers, families, and businesses. We can’t let him succeed.”

Emphasizing the need for rapid action, Carney added, “This won’t be business as usual. We will have to do things that we haven’t imagined before, at speeds we didn’t think possible.”

Carney has positioned himself as the best leader to navigate Canada through its economic challenges, particularly in light of Trump’s threats to impose additional tariffs. The former banker stated that his experience leading two G7 central banks makes him uniquely qualified to handle trade negotiations.

Trudeau’s Departure and the Liberal Party’s Revival

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation in January after more than nine years in power, following a sharp decline in his approval ratings. His decision prompted the Liberal Party to conduct an expedited leadership race. In his farewell speech, Trudeau underscored the importance of Canada’s democratic values.

“Make no mistake, this is a nation-defining moment. Democracy is not a given. Freedom is not a given. Even Canada is not a given,” Trudeau said.

Carney’s election marks a historic shift in Canadian politics, as he becomes the first prime minister without a traditional political background. His leadership bid has sparked renewed enthusiasm within the Liberal Party, which had been struggling in opinion polls but now appears to have regained ground against the opposition Conservatives, led by Pierre Poilievre.

Upcoming Elections and Political Tensions

Despite Carney’s leadership victory, recent polls indicate that neither the Liberals nor the Conservatives have enough support to secure a majority government. An election must be held by October 20, but two senior Liberal Party sources suggested that Carney might call for an early election in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, tensions between Canada and the United States continue to escalate. In response to Trump’s trade measures, Trudeau had previously imposed C$30 billion in retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports. Carney signaled that his government would maintain a firm stance against Trump’s policies.

“My government will keep our tariffs on until the Americans show us respect,” Carney declared.

On Sunday, protests erupted outside Parliament in Ottawa, with demonstrators holding signs condemning Trump’s trade policies. The growing discontent has led some political analysts to suggest that the Liberals may be experiencing a “rally-around-the-flag” effect, bolstering their political standing.

“There is a rallying-around-the-flag moment that we would never have predicted a year ago,” said University of British Columbia politics professor Richard Johnston. “I think it’s probably true as we speak that the Liberals have been saved from oblivion.”

Carney’s next challenge will be securing a seat in the House of Commons, as tradition dictates that a prime minister should hold a parliamentary seat as soon as possible. Meanwhile, Conservative leader Poilievre has ramped up attacks on Carney, as the battle for Canada’s political future intensifies ahead of the upcoming election.