Mark Carney, the former central banker, is set to take the oath as Canada’s next prime minister on Friday morning, along with his newly appointed cabinet, as confirmed by the governor general’s office on Wednesday.
At 59, Carney is stepping into the political spotlight after securing an overwhelming 86% of the more than 150,000 votes cast in the Liberal Party leadership race. His swift rise follows Justin Trudeau’s announcement in January that he would step down after nearly a decade in power.
Carney, who previously led both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, assumes office at a time when trade relations with the United States are under strain. In his victory speech, he sent a strong message to Washington, stating, “In trade as in hockey, Canada will win.”
With a fresh approach to leadership, Carney has already expressed his willingness to engage in discussions with US President Donald Trump to renegotiate a trade agreement and prevent further economic conflicts. This comes as the US imposes a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports, prompting Canada to retaliate with countermeasures of its own.
As he prepares to take office, all eyes are on Carney to see how his background in global finance will shape Canada’s economic and diplomatic future.