Mark Carney wins race to succeed Justin Trudeau as Canada PM

Former Bank of England Governor Mark Carney has won the race to succeed Justin Trudeau as Canada’s prime minister and Liberal Party leader.

Carney, 59, who easily beat three rivals, will lead the Liberals into the next general election, which is expected to be called in the coming weeks.

In his victory speech, Carney lashed out at US President Donald Trump, who has ignited a trade war with Canada and made comments about making the country the 51st US state.

Carney, who has never served in elected office, takes power at a time of deep instability for Canada. The Liberals have been trailing Conservatives in opinion polls, though they have narrowed the gap since the trade war with Trump began.

The leadership race began in January after Trudeau resigned following nearly a decade in office. He had faced internal pressure to quit over deep unpopularity with voters.

Carney is expected to be sworn in as prime minister in the coming days, and will lead a minority government in Parliament.

He could either call a snap general election himself or the opposition parties could force one with a no-confidence vote later this month.

After being declared winner on Sunday night, Carney said: “Canadians know that new threats demand new ideas and a new plan.

“They know that new challenges demand new leadership. Canadians want positive leadership that will end division and help us build together.”

On Trump, he said the US president had placed “unjustified tariffs” on Canada.

“He’s attacking Canadian workers, families, and businesses,” said Carney. “We can’t let him succeed.”

He said his government would keep tariffs on US imports “until the Americans show us respect”.

Carney also pledged to “secure our borders”, which has been a key demand of Trump in their tariff stand-off.

The former central banker has run on a broadly centrist agenda, a shift away from Trudeau, who had moved the Liberals to the left.

Among his key promises, as Canada faces a tariff war with the US, its largest trading partner, is to push forward on major energy projects like pipelines, which have faced a political roadblocks in recent years.

He has promised major investments in housing and clean energy projects, and to liberalise trade within Canada, where barriers remain between provinces, and to diversify trade away form the US.

During the leadership race, Carney promised to cap the size of the federal government, which expanded 40% under Trudeau and to undertake a programme review.

He said in late February he would run a “small” deficit for three years “that aligns with our fiscal capacity”, before balancing the operational budget.

Carney has said the country needs significant investments to counter Trump’s tariff threats, including in defence, energy and port and rail infrastructure.