Mark Carney has officially been sworn in as Canada’s 24th Prime Minister on Friday, amid rising tensions with the United States.
His emergence as Prime Minister followed a deterioration in US-Canada relations since President Donald Trump’s return to power.
The Liberal Party actively endorsed Carney’s candidacy to succeed Justin Trudeau, thinking that his significant expertise managing global financial crises will assist in guiding the country through future trade battles.
Carney, 60, is a political rookie with no previous elected office experience. However, his leadership talents will soon be tested as Canada prepares for a federal election, with many expecting US trade issues to dominate the campaign.
Under Trump, the US has levied high tariffs on Canadian imports and constantly threatened additional economic restrictions, even implying that Canada could be annexed by the US.
Carney, who was sworn in during a ceremony in Ottawa, said Trump’s tough approach is one of the most important issues Canada has faced in decades.
“Everything in my life has prepared me for this moment,” he said on Sunday after winning the Liberal Party leadership race.
Before entering politics, Carney was a well-known investment banker who later became Governor of the Bank of Canada during the 2008-2009 financial crisis.
He later oversaw the Bank of England through the turbulent Brexit era. Carney has positioned himself as the best leader to handle a trade war, portraying Canada’s relationship with the United States as one of distrust during Trump’s presidency.
Melanie Jol, Canada’s Foreign Minister, suggested that Carney will add a “new dynamic” to diplomacy, notably with the United States.
Speaking before Carney was sworn in, Joly stated that she and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is attending the G7, were seeking to schedule a call between Trump and Carney “in the next couple of days.”
His leadership came at a time when the political landscape in Canada had moved substantially.
Earlier this year, the Liberal Party was trailing the Conservatives by a substantial margin, but since Trudeau’s announcement of his departure in January, the race has narrowed.
His public image as a trustworthy character capable of standing up to Trump has appealed to many Canadians.
Notably, he just visited a steel facility in Ontario, emphasising the need for Canadian sovereignty in any trade agreement with the United States.
In order to distance himself from his predecessor, Carney has taken steps to appeal to centrist voters, such as promising to address climate change while rejecting Trudeau’s individual and family carbon tax.
