Mark Carney to replace Trudeau as Canada's prime minister after winning Liberal Party vote
Former central banker will become Canada鈥檚 next prime minister after the governing Liberal Party elected him its leader Sunday as the country deals with U.S. President and annexation threat, and a federal election looms.
Carney, 59, replaces , who announced his resignation in January but remains prime minister until his successor is sworn in in the coming days. Carney won in a landslide, winning 85.9% of the vote.
Video above: Northern Maine businesses have mixed feelings about tariffs on Canadian imports
鈥淭here is someone who is trying to weaken our economy,鈥� Carney said. 鈥淒onald Trump, as we know, has put unjustified tariffs on what we build, on what we sell and how we make a living. He's attacking Canadian families, workers and businesses and we cannot let him succeed and we won't.鈥�
Carney said Canada will keep retaliatory tariffs in place until 鈥渢he Americans show us respect.鈥�
Carney navigated crises when he was the head of the Bank of Canada and when in 2013 he became the first noncitizen to run the Bank of England since it was founded in 1694. His appointment won bipartisan praise in the U.K. after Canada recovered from the 2008 financial crisis faster than many other countries.
The opposition Conservatives hoped to make the election about Trudeau, whose popularity declined as food and housing prices rose and immigration surged.
Trump鈥檚 trade war and his talk of making Canada the infuriated Canadians, who are booing the American anthem at NHL and NBA games. Some are canceling trips south of the border, and many are avoiding buying American goods when they can.
The surge in Canadian nationalism has bolstered the Liberal Party鈥檚 chances in a parliamentary election expected within days or weeks, and Liberal showings have been improving steadily in opinion polls.
Video below: Trudeau says Canadians won't vacation at Old Orchard Beach in retaliation to tariffs
鈥淲e have made this the greatest country in the world and now our neighbors want to take us. No way,鈥� Carney said earlier.
After decades of bilateral stability, the vote on Canada鈥檚 next leader now is expected to focus on who is best equipped to deal with the United States.
Carney has picked up one endorsement after another from Cabinet ministers and members of Parliament since declaring his candidacy in January. He is a highly educated economist with Wall Street experience who has long been interested in entering politics and becoming prime minister, but he lacks political experience.
The other top Liberal leadership candidate was former Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland. Trudeau told Freeland in December that he no longer wanted her as finance minister, but that she could remain deputy prime minister and the point person for U.S.-Canada relations. Freeland resigned shortly after, releasing a scathing letter about the government that proved to be the last straw for Trudeau.
Carney is expected to trigger an election shortly afterward. Either Carney will call one, or the opposition parties in Parliament could force one with a no-confidence vote later this month.
