Justin Trudeau‘s replacement as Canada’s next Prime Minister has come out fighting against Trump, declaring that the country will never be a part of America.
Speaking during his acceptance speech, the former Bank of England governor Mark Carney chose to lean strongly into resisting US President Donald Trump’s policies.
The 59-year-old defiantly stated: ‘Donald Trump thinks he can weaken us with his plan to divide and conquer.
‘Pierre Poilievre will leave us divided and ready to be conquered because a person who worships at the altar of Donald Trump will kneel before him, not stand up to him’.
Carney went on to claim that Americans want Canada’s resources, water, land, and country and warned ‘if they succeeded, they would destroy our way of life’, adding: ”In America health care is big business. In Canada it is a right.’
But he vowed that ‘Canada will never, ever, be a part of America in any way, shape, or form as the audience cheered around him.
The new Liberal party leader and prime minister, who is set to be sworn in in coming days, reassured that the Canadian government has ‘rightly retaliated’ and promised to keep Canada’s retaliatory tariffs ‘until Americans show us respect’.
Trump has repeatedly said he will use economic power to encourage Canada to become the 51st state of the US.
Justin Trudeau ‘s replacement as Canada’s new Prime Minister declared that the country will ‘never be part of America’
Trump has repeatedly touted his ambition to annex Canada, referring to Trudeau as ‘Governor Trudeau’ and the nation as America’s ’51st state’
Former central banker Mark Carney was on Sunday chosen to take over Trudeau as the Liberal party leader and Prime Minister of Canada
But Carney made it abundantly clear that he that he intends to continue down Trudeau’s path of public spats with the US leader.
He went on to accuse Trump of ‘trying to weaken our economy’ in his Sunday speech to a raucous room full of Liberal party voters.
‘We didn’t ask for this fight. But Canadians are always ready when someone else drops the gloves,’ Carney said.
‘The Americans, they should make no mistake, in trade, as in hockey, Canada will win.’
Trump has postponed 25 per cent tariffs on many goods from Canada and Mexico for a month, amid widespread fears of a broader trade war.
But he has threatened other tariffs on steel, aluminum, dairy and other products.
‘Donald Trump, as we know, has put unjustified tariffs on what we build, on what we sell, on how we make a living,’ Carney said.
‘He’s attacking Canadian workers, families and businesses. We cannot let him succeed. And we won’t.’
Opposition Conservatives hoped to make the election about Trudeau, who shed tears on Sunday while giving his farewell address to the party. The outgoing prime minister’s popularity declined as food and housing prices rose and immigration surged.
Trump’s trade war and his talk of making Canada the 51st state infuriated Canadians, who have been booing the US national anthem at NHL and NBA games.
Some are canceling trips south of the border, and many are avoiding buying American goods when they can.
Justin Trudeau was in tears during a press conference Thursday after Donald Trump spent the week tormenting him with a tariff war as his time as prime minister winds down
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, right, embraces his daughter Ella-Grace after she introduced him at the Liberal leadership announcement
Cafes across the nation have stopped selling ‘Americanos’ in favor of a new name – ‘Canadianos.’
Carney said the actions of Canadians in standing up to Trump have made him proud.
‘I’m proud of the voices of Canadians who are making their voices heard and their wallets felt,’ he said as the crowd cheered.
‘Our provinces are stepping up to the fight. When we are united, we are Canada strong’.
Carney had earlier weighed in on the standoff between Trump and Trudeau, but there were doubts about whether he would attempt to strike a friendlier relationship with the leader of Canada’s closest neighbor.
He had previously said: ‘We have made this the greatest country in the world and now our neighbors want to take us. No way.’
After decades of bilateral stability, the vote on Canada’s next leader now is expected to focus on who is best equipped to deal with the United States.
Election laws mandate a general election must be held before the fall, but one is expected this spring.
And Carney is no stranger to crises. He was the head of the Bank of Canada and 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 UK after Canada recovered from the 2008 financial crisis faster than many other countries.
Trudeau announced his resignation in January but remains prime minister until his successor is sworn in in the coming days.
He became emotional on Sunday as he handed over the reins, tearing up as he delivered an impassioned final message to party members.
Former central banker Mark Carney (pictured with his wife Diana) was on Sunday chosen to take over Trudeau as the Liberal party leader and Prime Minister of Canada
‘Your country needs you maybe more than ever. And I have no doubt that you will answer the call, because you’ve done it before. Liberals will meet this moment,’ he said.
He describes the current moment of history as a ‘nation-defining moment’, adding: ‘Democracy is not a given, freedom is not a given, even Canada is not a given.’
Before appointing his successor, Trudeau announced Canada would begin implementing 25 percent tariffs on $155 billion of American goods, starting with $30 billion worth of products immediately.
‘This is a time to hit back hard and to demonstrate that a fight with Canada will have no winners,’ he said in an emotional press conference.
The United States imported $412 billion worth of goods from Canada in 2024, according to the US Census Bureau.
Trump has argued that the trade deficit with Canada demonstrates that the United States deserves to level more tariffs on their imported goods.
The president warned Trudeau Tuesday that the United States was willing to level additional tariffs on their country’s economy.
‘Please explain to Governor Trudeau, of Canada, that when he puts on a Retaliatory Tariff on the U.S., our Reciprocal Tariff will immediately increase by a like amount!’ Trump warned on social media.
Carney (pictured hugging his daughter Cleo), 59, replaces Trudeau, who announced his resignation in January but remains prime minister until his successor is sworn in in the coming days
Before appointing his successor, Trudeau announced Canada would begin implementing 25 percent tariffs on $155 billion of American goods, starting with $30 billion worth of products immediately
‘We subsidize them $200 billion a year. Without us, Canada can’t make it,’ Trump said during a cabinet meeting last week. ‘You know, Canada relies on us 95 percent. We rely on them 4 percent. Big difference.’
Trump suggested that Canada should join the United States if they want to escape the tariffs.
‘I say Canada should be our 51st state. There’s no tariffs, no nothing,’ he said last week.
Trump also argues that since the United States pays largely for Canada’s military security, the country should also pay more in tariffs.
‘We protect Canada. But it’s not fair. It’s not fair that they’re not paying their way. And if they had to pay their way, they couldn’t exist,’ he said.
