Mark Carney Officially Becomes Canada’s New Prime Minister, Succeeding Trudeau | Political Updates

Mark Carney has been sworn in as the new Prime Minister of Canada, marking the end of Justin Trudeau’s nearly 10-year tenure in the role.

The 59-year-old former central banker took the oath of office on Friday, announcing a streamlined cabinet and vowing to protect Canada’s interests amid tariff threats from U.S. President Donald Trump.

Governor General Mary Simon — the personal representative of King Charles, Canada’s head of state — presided over the ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa.

“We’re building a government that meets the moment. Canadians expect action — and that’s what this team will deliver,” Carney said in a social media post. “A smaller, experienced cabinet that moves faster, secures our economy, and protects Canada’s future.”

A New Cabinet

While Trudeau’s cabinet had over 30 members, Carney reduced it to 24, eliminating positions such as deputy prime minister.

The new cabinet, sworn in on Friday, includes some holdovers from Trudeau’s administration as well as newcomers. However, some returning ministers were reassigned to new roles.

Trudeau’s Finance Minister, Dominic LeBlanc, will now lead the international trade portfolio under Carney. LeBlanc’s former role has been filled by former Innovation Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne.

Foreign Minister Melanie Joly is among those retaining their positions from the Trudeau era.

Chrystia Freeland, whose high-profile resignation in December shook the Trudeau government, has returned as transport minister.

“Canada’s new government is changing how we work to deliver better results faster to all Canadians. We have new ministers with new ideas, ready to respond to new threats and seize new opportunities,” Carney said on Friday. “Our leaner cabinet will focus on two priorities: protecting Canadian workers and their families from unjustified foreign trade actions, and growing this great country by putting more money in Canadians’ pockets.”

“Canada’s new government will be action-oriented, driven by a smaller but highly experienced team made to meet the moment we are in.”

Conservative opposition leader Pierre Poilievre quickly criticized the new cabinet on social media. “87% of Carney’s ministers were Trudeau’s ministers,” he wrote. “And 100% of Carney’s ministers were in Trudeau’s caucus — helping hike carbon taxes and double the debt, housing costs, and food bank lineups. A Liberal is a Liberal is a Liberal.”

Facing a Federal Election

Until recently, Canada’s Liberal Party seemed headed for a significant loss in this year’s federal election, with the Conservative opposition benefiting from growing discontent over rising living costs and a housing shortage.

Trudeau himself faced pressure to step down as Liberal Party leader and prime minister.

However, the leadership change and Trump’s threats have revitalized the party.

Starting in November, Trump began threatening Canada with 25% tariffs on all exports to the U.S., a potentially devastating blow to its economy. He also pressured Canada to become the U.S.’s “cherished 51st state” as part of his expansionist agenda, refusing to rule out economic coercion to annex Canada.

In early January, Trudeau agreed to step down as Liberal Party leader but has since led his government in firm opposition to Trump’s trade wars and threats to Canada’s sovereignty.

As a result, the Liberals have surged ahead of the Conservative Party in voter polls for the first time in years, erasing a 26-point deficit in just six weeks.

Carney — a former governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England — overwhelmingly won a party race on Sunday to become the Liberal leader.

Canada’s federal elections must be held by October 20, though analysts speculate Carney may call them sooner to capitalize on the Liberals’ momentum.

A Showdown with Trump

Carney must also address the immediate challenges posed by Trump’s trade wars.

Trump has already increased tariffs on all steel and aluminium imports to 25%, a move likely to hit Canada hard. The country has announced retaliatory tariffs.

Trump has twice delayed a blanket 25% tariff on all Canadian and Mexican products, now set to take effect on April 2.

Canada has stated it will not lift its retaliatory tariffs until all U.S. tariff threats are withdrawn and has accused Trump of violating the USMCA trade agreement he signed during his first term.

Carney has said he will meet with Trump if the U.S. president shows “respect for Canadian sovereignty” and is willing to adopt “a common, comprehensive approach to trade.”

On the steps of Rideau Hall on Friday, Carney affirmed he has no immediate plans to visit Trump in Washington, D.C., but emphasized his intention to diversify Canada’s trading partners.

“The president is a successful businessperson and dealmaker. We’re his largest client,” Carney said. “Clients expect respect and working together in a proper commercial way.”

“What you will see from this government is a focus on building here at home and with different partners abroad. That will reinforce the point,” he continued.

He also strongly defended Canadian sovereignty. “I’ve been clear — the ministers behind me, I think, to an individual, when asked, have been clear — that we will never, ever, in any way, shape, or form be part of the United States. America is not Canada,” he said.

When asked about recent statements from the Trump administration regarding Canada becoming the 51st state, Carney did not hold back.

“C’est simple: C’est fou. Point finale,” Carney said in French, one of Canada’s two official languages, before translating loosely to English. “It’s crazy. His point is crazy. That’s it.”