During escalating trade war between Canada and United States, former governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, Mark Carney, has won election to become the new leader of Canada’s Liberal Party and the country’s next prime minister. He secured 85.9% of the votes.
Mark Carney’s victory has happened in a critical moment, when Donald Trump’s administration imposed 25% of tariffs on Canadian import. Corney is planning to defend national interests, which he highlighted in his speech. “America is not Canada. And Canada never, ever, will be part of America in any way, shape or form,” Carney said in his victory speech on Sunday. He also added, “We didn’t ask for this fight, but Canadians are always ready when someone else drops the gloves. So Americans should make no mistake: in trade, as in hockey, Canada will win.”
Carney promised to maintain retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods until the United States is willing to have respect and enter free and fair trade. He added that all tariff revenues would go towards assisting in the protection of Canadian workers. Carney also touched on proposals for making Canada an “energy superpower” and opening up new trade routes with reliable partners in order to increase the country’s economic muscle.
The transition from Trudeau to Carney is a dramatic shift in Canadian politics. Trudeau, who quit in January due to declining approval ratings, stated the following, “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.
