Former central banker Mark Carney has secured victory in the race to lead Canada’s ruling Liberal Party and is set to succeed Justin Trudeau as the country’s prime minister, according to official results announced on Sunday.
Carney steps into leadership at a challenging time for Canada, which is currently engaged in a trade conflict with the United States under President Donald Trump. Additionally, the country is preparing for an upcoming general election.
Read more: Trump Slaps Tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China
At 59 years old, Carney secured 86% of the vote, defeating former Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland in a contest where nearly 152,000 party members participated.
Addressing his supporters, Carney criticized Trump, accusing him of trying to undermine Canada’s economy. “He’s attacking Canadian workers, families, and businesses. We can’t let him succeed,” he said, prompting loud boos from the crowd.
“This won’t be business as usual,” he added. “We must take actions we never imagined, at a pace we never thought possible.”
Trudeau announced in January that he would step down after serving over nine years as prime minister, following a sharp decline in his approval ratings. This led the Liberal Party to conduct a swift leadership contest.
“This is a defining moment for our nation,” Trudeau stated. “Democracy, freedom, and even Canada itself cannot be taken for granted.”
Despite lacking prior political experience, Carney argued that he was the best candidate to rejuvenate the party and manage trade negotiations with Trump, who has threatened further tariffs that could harm Canada’s trade-dependent economy.
In retaliation for Trump’s tariffs, Trudeau had imposed C$30 billion in countermeasures on the U.S. Carney reaffirmed this stance, stating, “My government will maintain these tariffs until the Americans show us respect.”
Carney’s victory is historic, as he is the first person without a traditional political background to become Canada’s prime minister. He highlighted his experience leading two G7 central banks—Canada and the United Kingdom—as a key strength in handling challenges posed by Trump.
The Liberal Party has experienced a resurgence under Carney, aided by growing public opposition to Trump’s economic policies and his provocative remarks about annexing Canada as the 51st U.S. state.
A Surge in Liberal Support
At the beginning of 2025, the Liberals were trailing by over 20 points in polls. However, they are now statistically tied with the opposition Conservatives, led by veteran politician Pierre Poilievre.
Public sentiment has shifted, as demonstrated by a protest outside Canada’s Parliament in Ottawa, where demonstrators displayed anti-Trump signs while avoiding domestic political messaging.
“This has become an unexpected moment of national unity,” noted Richard Johnston, a political science professor at the University of British Columbia. “Just a year ago, no one would have predicted that the Liberals could escape political collapse.”
Despite this shift, polls indicate that neither the Liberals nor the Conservatives are positioned to win a majority government, with an election required by October 20.
According to two senior Liberal Party insiders, Carney is expected to call an early election, which could take place sooner than anticipated.
While Carney can legally serve as prime minister without a seat in the House of Commons, tradition dictates that he should seek to win one as soon as possible.
The Liberals have recently attempted to draw comparisons between Poilievre and Trump in their campaign messaging. In response, Poilievre intensified his criticism of Carney following Sunday’s leadership announcement.
