Canada's Carney jabs at Trump after winning race to replace Trudeau as PM
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Mark Carney, the new leader of Canada's Liberal Party, and his wife, Diana Carney, arrive onstage during the leadership announcement event in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, on Sunday. Photo: David Kawai/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Canada's ruling Liberals elected a new party leader in Ottawa, Canada, on Sunday who will serve as the nation's next prime minister, replacing the outgoing Justin Trudeau.
Why it matters: Liberal Party members' vote for Mark Carney, former governor of the Banks of Canada and England, comes as the Liberals are experiencing a polling boost amid widespread opposition to President Trump's U.S. policies targeting its northern neighbor.
- Little more than 150,000 Canadians chose who the country's new leader would be as the leadership was decided in a vote by Liberal Party members who registered and were verified to vote.
What they're saying: "These are dark days brought on by a country we can no longer trust," Carney said, in reference to U.S. tariffs after the 59-year-old won 85.9% of the vote to be elected Liberal Party leader.
- Carney vowed to stand up to Trump over the tariffs. "America is not Canada. And Canada never, ever, will be part of America in any way, shape or form," Carney said.
- "We didn't ask for this fight, but Canadians are always ready when someone else drops the gloves."
State of play: The election of Carney marks a new era for Canadian politics.
- Trudeau served as the leader of Canada's Liberal Party for 11 years and the country's prime minister for nine.
- Trudeau told the Liberal crowd in his farewell speech that their country "needs you, maybe more than ever," adding: "Democracy is not a given. Freedom is not a given."
The big picture: Trudeau resigned as Liberal Party leader in January amid deep unpopularity, as polls showed the Conservative Party was set to trounce the Liberals in the upcoming federal election.
- Trudeau said he would remain prime minister until a new party leader was chosen.
- Yet anti-Trump sentiment, spurred by Trump's tariffs and boasts about making Canada the 51st state, have raised the party's fortunes, with one poll giving the Liberal Party its first lead since 2021.
Zoom in: Trudeau's resignation triggered a race in the Liberal Party to choose his successor, with the winner becoming the country's next prime minister for the duration of the party's ruling term.
- Liberal Party members cast ballots in the ranked choice election until the winner was declared after a candidate garnered over 50% of the votes.
- Trudeau's successor will serve as prime minister until at least the election, which is due to take place by Oct. 20. However, Canadian Global Television Network notes the new PM could call for elections at any time, even before Parliament resumes on March 24.
What's next: Carney is set to be sworn in as prime minister in the coming days.
Flashback: Carney helped guide Canada through the 2008-09 global financial crisis before going on to become the first non-British Bank of England governor in 2013, a position he held until 2020.
- In this role, he helped the Bank of England respond to Brexit turbulence after the U.K. voted to leave the European Union.
Thought bubble, via Axios' Felix Salmon: It's vanishingly rare for central bankers to enter electoral politics, but Carney's thumping win shows that in Canada, at least, there's a real desire for competence rather than rhetoric.
What we're watching: Carney's election could further reenergize the Liberals' base as they prepare to square off in the election against the Conservatives, led by Pierre Poilievre, whom Liberals have sought to compare to Trump.
- If so, Canada could provide a blueprint for liberal parties looking to stave off the global populist surge that ushered Trump into office.
Go deeper: Trump turns Canadian politics upside down
Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout and to remove an erroneous reference to Justin Trudeau as premier.
