Mark Carney will become Canada’s next prime minister after securing victory in the Liberal leadership race on Sunday night. Addressing a crowd of cheering supporters, Carney declared, “Canada never ever will be part of America in any way, shape, or form,” emphasizing his stance against U.S. economic pressure.
Carney, who won with 86% of the vote—131,764 out of 151,899 ballots cast—pledged that Canada’s tariffs against the U.S. would remain until “the Americans show us respect.” He warned that while “Donald Trump thinks he can weaken us with his plan to divide and conquer,” Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre’s approach would leave Canada “divided and ready to be conquered.”
In his victory speech, Carney urged Liberals to prepare for “the most important election of our lives,” calling it a fight where “the stakes have never been higher.” He also dismissed Trump’s repeated references to Canada as a potential “51st state,” vowing, “No way.”
The leadership transition follows months of internal Liberal Party turmoil. In December, outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reportedly sought to appoint Carney as finance minister, a move that led Chrystia Freeland to resign from Cabinet. Trudeau later announced he would step down as leader, admitting that internal party struggles had made it impossible for him to lead into the next election, currently scheduled for no later than October 20.
But opposition parties are pushing for a quicker vote, with plans to introduce a non-confidence motion when Parliament reconvenes on March 24. The Globe and Mail reported Saturday that Carney is likely to preempt this by calling a snap election as early as next month, with voting day potentially set for April 28 or May 5. The prime minister-designate is expected to meet with Trudeau on Monday to finalize transition plans, with a slimmed-down Cabinet expected to be sworn in by Friday.
Despite Carney’s leadership win and some momentum in the polls, Conservatives are preparing for what they call a “change election.” Laura Kurkimaki, a former Conservative campaign strategist, argued that after a decade of Liberal rule, “Canadians are tired of that,” and that Carney will be forced to run on Trudeau’s record.
“The next election will be about who is going to make life more affordable for Canadians,” Kurkimaki said, adding that economic uncertainty stemming from U.S. policies will be a key factor. She noted that the longer Carney waits to call an election, the more time Conservatives will have to launch attack ads—an advantage given their significant fundraising lead. Last year, the Conservatives raised about $29 million, more than double the Liberals’ $11 million.
Trump weighed in on the Canadian Conservative leader in an interview with The Spectator, saying Poilievre’s “biggest problem is he’s not a MAGA guy… He’s not a Trump guy at all.”
Poilievre responded on X, writing, “Mr. President, it is true. I am not MAGA.” He reaffirmed his stance, stating, “I am for Canada First. Always. Canada has always been America’s best friend & ally. But we will NEVER be the 51st state.”
