Former central banker Mark Carney has won the leadership of Canada’s ruling Liberal Party and will succeed Justin Trudeau as prime minister, according to official results announced on Sunday.
Carney, 59, secured a decisive victory with 86% of the vote, defeating former Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland in a contest that saw nearly 152,000 party members participate.
His leadership comes at a critical time, as Canada grapples with a trade war with the United States under President Donald Trump and faces an impending general election.
A Defiant Stance Against Trump
Speaking at the party gathering, Carney criticized Trump’s economic policies, drawing loud boos from the crowd.
“There’s someone who’s trying to weaken our economy,” he said. “He’s attacking Canadian workers, families, and businesses. We can’t let him succeed.”
Carney also signaled a bold approach to governance:
“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.”
Trudeau’s Exit and the Liberal Revival
Trudeau, who announced his resignation in January after more than nine years in power, framed Carney’s leadership as a defining moment for Canada.
“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 declared.
Carney, despite his lack of political experience, argued that his tenure as governor of both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England made him the best candidate to navigate trade negotiations with Trump.
As tensions with Washington escalate, Carney has pledged to maintain Canada’s C$30 billion in retaliatory tariffs until the U.S. alters its stance.
“My government will keep our tariffs on until the Americans show us respect,” he asserted.
Election on the Horizon
Carney’s victory has unexpectedly revitalized the Liberal Party, which had been trailing the opposition Conservatives led by Pierre Poilievre by 20 points at the start of 2025. Recent polls now show the two parties in a statistical tie.
Political analysts attribute this shift to nationalist sentiment fueled by Trump’s tariff threats and provocative remarks about annexing Canada.
“There is a rallying-around-the-flag moment that we would never have predicted a year ago,” said Richard Johnston, a politics professor at the University of British Columbia.
With an election required by October 20, Liberal insiders suggest Carney may call for an early vote in the coming weeks. While he can serve as prime minister without a parliamentary seat, tradition dictates he should seek one as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, the Conservatives have intensified their attacks on Carney, drawing comparisons between him and Trudeau as they prepare for what is expected to be a fiercely contested election.
Source: Reuters
