Mark Carney was sworn in as Canada’s prime minister in Ottawa, marking a significant shift in the political landscape amid deteriorating US relations under President Trump. The former governor of the Bank of Canada and Bank of England took the oath in both English and French, pledging loyalty to King Charles III. Despite lacking political experience, Carney won the Liberal Party leadership and plans to address strained US-Canada ties. He intends to reshuffle his cabinet to strengthen alliances in Europe and will only engage with Trump when Canadian sovereignty is respected. Carney’s commitment includes maintaining retaliatory tariffs on US goods.
Mark Carney was officially inaugurated as prime minister of Canada on Friday in Ottawa. He took his oath of office before General Mary Simon, the representative of King Charles.
With the strained relations between Canada and the US, particularly under the administration of President Donald Trump, Carney’s leadership represents a notable shift in the nation’s political scenery. The 59-year-old, who previously governed the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, recited his oath in both English and French, affirming his loyalty to King Charles III and pledging to serve as a “faithful and true servant to his majesty”.
Carney triumphed over his opponents on Sunday to become the leader of the ruling Liberal Party, despite his lack of previous political experience. This groundbreaking development has generated significant interest, thanks to Carney’s track record of managing complex economic challenges. His initial significant task will be to address the fragile state of US-Canada relations, which have plummeted to a historic low.
To confront this issue, Carney intends to reorganize his cabinet, with Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc moving to the international trade role and Innovation Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne stepping in as finance minister. This strategic adjustment is designed to strengthen Canada’s partnerships in Europe, especially in London and Paris, where Carney plans to travel next week.
Carney takes over from Justin Trudeau, who served as prime minister for more than nine years. Carney’s status as an outsider, coupled with his experience in crisis management, was perceived as a key element in his electoral success.
In a statement, Carney stressed his dedication to protecting Canadian sovereignty, asserting that he would only engage with Trump “when there is respect for Canadian sovereignty.” He further affirmed his plan to maintain retaliatory tariffs on US goods until the US shows respect towards Canada.
Current efforts are being made to organize a phone call between Trump and Carney, as indicated by Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly.