Mark Carney has been elected as Canada’s next Prime Minister, pledging to take a tough stance against US President Donald Trump in an ongoing trade dispute.
Speaking to a crowd of supporters after securing a decisive victory in the leadership race, Carney, a former governor of the Bank of England and Bank of Canada, made it clear that his administration would not back down in the face of US trade policies.
“Americans should make no mistake: in trade, as in hockey, Canada will win,” he declared.
Carney, 59, will be sworn into office in the coming days and has already outlined plans to impose retaliatory tariffs on US goods. He insists these measures will remain in place “until Americans show us respect.”
Despite never having held elected office, Carney won the leadership race with an overwhelming 86% of the vote. He is expected to call a general election soon, though polls indicate a narrowing lead for his party over the Conservative opposition.
His victory comes after Justin Trudeau stepped down in January, ending a nine-year tenure as Prime Minister.
Who is Mark Carney?
Born in the Northwest Territories and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, Carney is an economist with a track record of navigating financial crises. He previously served as governor of the Bank of Canada, helping the country weather the Great Recession, before being recruited to lead the Bank of England in 2013—becoming the first non-British person to hold the role in its three-century history.
Most recently, Carney worked as a special economics adviser to Justin Trudeau, helping shape Canada’s fiscal policies. Now, as Prime Minister, he faces one of his biggest challenges yet—leading Canada through an escalating trade standoff with its largest trading partner.
“In a situation like this, you need experience in terms of crisis management, you need negotiating skills,” he said during a leadership debate last month.
As he takes office, all eyes will be on how he handles tensions with Washington and whether his economic expertise can translate into political success.