Mark Carney, the former governor of the central banks of the UK and Canada, was appointed as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s successor on Sunday and promptly criticized President Trump during his victory address.
At the age of 59, Carney secured a decisive victory in the contest to lead the federal Liberal Party, garnering 86% of the votes. This achievement marks him as the first individual without significant political experience to assume the role of Canadian prime minister.
The seasoned banker is set to assume leadership in Canada during a tumultuous phase marked by rising tensions between the nation and the United States, particularly as Trump has indicated plans to impose further tariffs that could severely impact Canada’s export-reliant economy, alongside his provocative suggestion of making Canada the 51st state of the US.
Carney promptly dismissed Trump’s threats, utilizing his victory speech as a call to action against the President and the United States.
“America is not Canada. And Canada never, ever, will be part of America in any way, shape or form,” Carney said in his speech Sunday.
“We didn’t ask for this fight, but Canadians are always ready when someone else drops the gloves,” he continued.
“The Americans want our resources, our water, our land, our country,” Carney said. “Think about it. If they succeed, they will destroy our way of life.”
On the campaign trail, Carney emphasized that his economic experience made him the best candidate to grapple with Trump and his tariff agenda.
“We didn’t ask for this fight, but Canadians are always ready when someone else drops the gloves,” he continued.
“The Americans want our resources, our water, our land, our country,” Carney said. “Think about it. If they succeed, they will destroy our way of life.”
On the campaign trail, Carney emphasized that his economic experience made him the best candidate to grapple with Trump and his tariff agenda.
Carney beat out former Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, former government house leader Karina Gould and former member of parliament Frank Baylis in a contest in which just under 152,000 party members voted.
It’s not clear when Carney will formally assume office. He and Trudeau are expected to meet in the coming days to determine the outgoing prime minister’s final day at the helm.
The Wall Street wiz threw his hat in the race to succeed Trudeau in January, just a week after the incumbent announced he would resign before completing his term.
Carney has never run for elected office before, making him somewhat of a political novice. However, he has served in various roles within the Canadian government for more than a decade — most recently as Trudeau’s appointed chair of the Liberal Party of Canada’s Task Force on Economic Growth.
He previously served as the governor of the Bank of Canada before becoming the first non-Brit to run the Bank of England since it was founded in 1694.
