The Blubber

Mark Carney Sworn in as Canada’s Prime Minister, Faces US Trade Tensions

Mark Carney has officially taken office as Canada’s prime minister, succeeding Justin Trudeau, as the country navigates rising sovereignty tensions with US President Donald Trump and an escalating trade war with its largest trading partner, the United States.

A former central banker with no prior elected experience in Canada, Carney now leads the Liberal Party and is tasked with steering the nation through economic and political headwinds ahead of an upcoming election later this year.

Speaking at a press conference following his swearing-in, Carney directly addressed mounting US pressure:

“We will never, ever, in any way, shape, or form, be part of the United States. America is not Canada.”

Since taking office, Trump has repeatedly floated the idea of Canada becoming the 51st US state, further straining diplomatic relations.

Carney also confirmed that he currently has no immediate plans to visit Washington, though he does intend to engage in discussions with leaders from the United Kingdom and France.

Economic Priorities and Trade Battles

Focusing on Canada’s most pressing challenges, Carney outlined his two top priorities:

1. Protecting Canadian workers and families from “unjustified foreign trade actions”
2. Boosting Canada’s economic growth by cutting government spending, increasing investments, and building millions of homes

Carney, a former Governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, has extensive experience navigating economic crises. His leadership during global financial upheavals has long made him a sought-after figure within the Liberal Party, which had courted him for over a decade.

Although he played a key advisory role in Canada’s post-pandemic recovery, Carney did not formally enter politics until Trudeau announced his resignation in January. Unlike his competitors—all sitting politicians—Carney assumes office without holding a seat in Parliament, an unusual situation for a prime minister.

With an election deadline of October 20, Carney hinted that Canadians can expect to head to the polls before November, though he stopped short of providing a specific date.

A New Cabinet Takes Shape

Carney’s new cabinet was also sworn in on Thursday at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, with ministers taking their oaths in both English and French.

As a Commonwealth nation, Canada’s leaders, including Carney and his ministers, swore allegiance to King Charles III as the head of state.

Among the key appointments:

• Dominic LeBlanc was sworn in as Minister for Trade and Intergovernmental Affairs. A former Minister of Finance under Trudeau, LeBlanc has been a central figure in Canada’s trade dispute with the US. He traveled to Washington yesterday to meet with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
• François-Philippe Champagne, who succeeded LeBlanc as Minister of Finance, also attended the Washington trade discussions.

Carney now faces the challenge of leading Canada through an intensifying trade battle with the US, while preparing for an upcoming election that will determine the country’s political future.