CANADA’S new prime minister has wasted no time in firing back at US President Donald Trump, vowing to fight the escalating trade war “until Trump shows us respect.”
Mark Carney – who was among the anti-Brexit campaign’s biggest voices during his time as Bank of England chief – called out Trump for attempting to “destroy the Canadian way of life” with tariffs and trade threats.
The former Bank of England governor and “Project Fear” architect made it clear that Canada will not back down.
“There is someone who is trying to weaken our economy. Donald Trump. Donald Trump has put unjustified tariffs on what we build, sell and how we make a living,” Carney said in his acceptance speech.
He went on to describe Trump’s tariffs and threats as the “greatest crisis of our lifetime”.
The war of words intensified last week after the US imposed 25% tariffs on Canadian goods, prompting Canada to retaliate with its own tariffs on up to $155bn worth of US products.
The trade war has put a strain on the two nations’ relationship, and Carney said the US could no longer be trusted.
“We will keep our tariffs on until the Americans show us respect,” Carney declared.
“We did not ask for this fight. But Canadians are always ready when someone else drops the gloves. Make no mistake, Canada will win.”
He became a popular choice for party members due to his wealth of experience after serving as governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England between 2013 up until 2020.
This also left the future PM at the helm during the seismic 2016 Brexit vote – during which he was seen as critical of Britain’s decision to leave the EU.
He was derided as a “failed second tier politician” and branded as the leader “Project Hysteria”.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”6369826395112″ aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”Trump enemy Trudeau replaced by Mark Carney as Canada’s new Prime Minister to face looming ’51st state’ threat from Don” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”pV1KxHf2t” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6369822989112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]He warned Britain’s exit from the EU was the “biggest domestic risk” facing the UK before the vote back in 2016.
And his interventions sparked fury from Brexit campaigners – who accused him of “crying wolf” and being “politically motivated”.
The defiant speech, however, wasn’t just aimed at Trump.
Carney also took aim at opposition leader Pierre Poilievre, accusing him of “worshipping at the altar of Donald Trump” and positioning the Liberal Party as the defenders of Canadian sovereignty.
With nationalism surging in Canada, Carney added: “We have made this the greatest country in the world and now our neighbours want to take us. No way.”
While tensions with the US intensify, Carney made it clear that Canada will stand its ground.
“We can’t change Donald Trump,” he said.
“But because we’re masters in our own home, we can control our economic destiny.”
Carney’s firm stance comes amid mounting support for his leadership in a nation reeling from the threat of becoming the “51st state” and Trump’s ongoing tariff war.
His speech marks a sharp shift in the rhetoric of Western leaders standing up to the US president.
“We have to look out for ourselves and we have to look out for each other,” Carney urged
“We need to hold together for the tough days ahead. We can and we will get through this crisis.”
Mark Carney was yesterday announced as Canada’s next Prime Minister after Justin Trudeau stepped down from the role.
Carney is yet to be formally sworn in – which is expected in the coming days.
Outgoing Trudeau has faced months of hell ever since his main enemy returned to the White House in January.
Trudeau was even left in tears in his farewell speech just days after America slapped a brutal 25 per cent tariff on all goods imported from Canada.
Responding to the fierce cross-border feud, Carney said: “We didn’t ask for this fight, but Canadians are always ready when someone else drops the gloves.
“The Americans should make no mistake – in trade, as in hockey, Canada will win.
“The Americans want our resources, our water, our land, our country.”
Addressing Trump’s tariff threats, Carney said: “We cannot let him succeed and we won’t.”
The political novice was the front-runner for the role after Trudeau announced his resignation in January as he faced a crushing election defeat.
He received a slew of support including endorsements from the majority of Trudeau’s cabinet.
Meanwhile, Trudeau spoke his final words as the leader of Canada – as he wept when saying his goodbyes.
In front of hundreds of his party members, he opened his speech and said: “I’m damn proud of what we’ve done over these past 10 years. But tonight is about our future as a party, as a country.”
He added: “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 describes it as a “nation-defining moment”, adding: “Democracy is not a given, freedom is not a given, even Canada is not a given.”
The process to choose Canada’s next PM began on February 26 with the almost 400,000 Liberal Party members voting online through a verified process and ranking their favourites.
The new leader is expected to trigger an election shortly afterwards.
Either the new Liberal party leader will call one, or the opposition parties in Parliament could force one with a no-confidence vote later this month.
On Tuesday, the US slapped a brutal 25 per cent tariff on all goods imported from Canada, and despite a softening from Trump, the damage has been done.
This is a challenge, Carney says he is more than prepared to take on.
At his final rally on Friday, the former governor slammed Trump, accusing him of “attacking” Canada.
On multiple occasions, Trump said that it would be a “great idea” to make Canada the 51st state of the US.
Carney said: “He is attacking what we build. He is attacking what we sell. He is attacking how we earn our living.
“We are facing the most serious crisis in our lifetime. Everything in my life has prepared me for this moment.”
Polling from earlier in the week by the firm Angus Reid showed that the majority of Canadians from across the political spectrum back Carney as their choice to face off with the American president.
It is hoped that the PM will be able to see the governing Liberals through the upcoming federal election as current polls show a narrow win by the rival Conservative Party.
According to data collected by Angus Reid, 43 per cent of Canadians back Carney to deal with Trump compared to the 34 per cent who support Tory leader Pierre Poilievre.
A win by Freeland would have shocked Liberals and made them more fearful of an election loss.
Thanks to Trudeau’s unpopularity following his scandal-hit decade in power, she would have struggled to shake off the connection as the Conservatives attack the former Prime Minister’s record.
The election, which must take place by October 20, could happen in a matter of weeks so Carney will have to hit the ground running to win over voters.
Carney’s new role as Prime Minister is his first position in parliament and elected office – something that could work in his favour or be to his detriment in the upcoming election.
He has sold himself to supporters as a breath of fresh air for the Liberal Party, as there is no overlap with himself and Trudeau.
At his closing rally he said that across the country, Canadians want change and that he, as a political outsider, can give them that.
“It’s getting to the point where after two months I may have to start calling myself a politician,” he joked with supporters.
[boxout headline=”Who is Mark Carney?”]MARK Carney was Governor of the Bank of England from 2013 to 2020 after he was appointed by then-Chancellor George Osborne.
Carney was critical of Brexit and said before the vote that a vote to leave the EU could see the economy shrink.
Since leaving Threadneedle Street in 2020, Carney even more critical of Brexit, blaming it for rising inflation.
He told MPs that the vote to leave the EU had lowered the UK’s economic growth by as much as 2 per cent.
Speaking at a Treasury select committee in 2018, Mr Carney said: “Real household incomes are about £900 lower than we forecast in 2016.
“The question is why and what drove that difference. Some of it is ascribed to Brexit.”
The then-outgoing Governor was accused by senior Tories of reviving ‘Project Fear‘ after claiming there was a one in three chance of a recession after the UK left the EU.