Mark Carney, Canada’s Prime Minister-elect and newly elected leader of the Liberal Party, has pledged to stand firm against U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade policies, warning that Canada faces an existential challenge from its southern neighbor.
Speaking to a cheering crowd in Ottawa following his decisive victory over Chrystia Freeland in the Liberal leadership race, Carney asserted that his government would not back down in the ongoing trade conflict with the United States.
“We didn’t ask for this fight. But Canadians are always ready when someone else drops the gloves,” Carney declared. “So the Americans, they should make no mistake, in trade as in hockey, Canada will win.”
The 59-year-old former Bank of Canada and Bank of England governor will soon take over from outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, though his tenure may be short-lived, with national elections expected by October or possibly earlier.
Confronting U.S. Policies
Carney accused President Trump of attempting to seize control of Canada’s resources and economy, stating, “The Americans want our resources, our water, our land, our country. These are dark days, dark days brought on by a country we can no longer trust.”
The U.S. president has repeatedly introduced unpredictable trade tariffs and policies affecting Canada, creating uncertainty in the country’s economic outlook. Carney, who campaigned on a platform of economic stability and resistance to Trump’s influence, emphasized that defending Canadian workers, businesses, and families would be his top priority.
A Challenging Road Ahead
Carney’s leadership bid saw him secure an overwhelming 85.9% of the nearly 152,000 votes cast, far ahead of Freeland’s eight percent. Despite this strong mandate within the Liberal Party, he faces an uphill battle against opposition leader Pierre Poilievre and the Conservatives, who currently hold a slight lead in national polls.
With a background in finance and economic policy but no prior elected office experience, Carney’s ability to navigate the political landscape remains untested. Analysts have suggested that his aggressive stance against Trump could rally Liberal supporters, but his effectiveness in a national election remains uncertain.
