Mark Carney, once a central banker, has emerged victorious in the contest to lead Canada’s governing Liberal Party, positioning him to replace Justin Trudeau as the nation’s prime minister, according to official results released on Sunday.
Carney steps into the role during a chaotic period for Canada, which is locked in a trade dispute with its long-standing partner, the United States, led by President Donald Trump, and faces a looming general election.
The 59-year-old secured 86% of the votes from nearly 152,000 party members, defeating former Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland in the leadership race.
“There’s someone who’s trying to weaken our economy,” Carney said of Trump, spurring loud boos at the party gathering. “He’s attacking Canadian workers, families, and businesses. We can’t let him succeed.”
“The country needs bold action,” Carney declared. “We’ll need to take steps we’ve never considered, at a pace we never thought we could.”
Trudeau revealed in January that he would exit after over nine years as leader, with his popularity sinking, prompting the Liberal Party to swiftly organise a race to find his successor.
“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 said.
Carney, new to politics, pitched himself as the ideal choice to rejuvenate the party and manage trade talks with Trump, who has warned of new tariffs that could devastate Canada’s export-driven economy.
In retaliation, Trudeau has slapped C$30 billion in tariffs on the United States, countering Trump’s duties on Canadian goods.
“My government will keep our tariffs on until the Americans show us respect,” Carney said.
Carney’s triumph makes him the first political outsider without prior experience to take the prime minister’s office in Canada.
He has leaned on his unique record as the only individual to head two G7 central banks – Canada and England to argue he’s the strongest contender to face Trump.
The promise of a new beginning under Carney, alongside Trump’s tariffs and his mocking suggestions of making Canada the 51st U.S. state, has sparked a surprising turnaround for the Liberal Party’s prospects.
Earlier this year, the Liberals lagged 20 or more points behind, but recent polls show them neck-and-neck with the opposition Conservatives, led by seasoned politician Pierre Poilievre.
On Sunday, outside Canada’s Parliament in Ottawa, dozens of citizens waved signs condemning Trump, ignoring local political issues entirely.
“There is a rallying-around-the-flag moment that we would never have predicted a year ago,” said University of British Columbia politics professor Richard Johnston. “I think it’s probably true as we speak that the Liberals have been saved from oblivion.”
Surveys suggest neither the Liberals nor Conservatives could win a majority in Parliament. The law requires an election by 20 October, though two party insiders say Carney might call one in the coming weeks, possibly much sooner.
Carney can legally lead as prime minister without a seat in the House of Commons, but convention urges him to run for one quickly.
The Liberals recently ran an ad linking Conservative leader Poilievre to Trump, while Poilievre fired back with sharper criticism of Carney on Sunday.
