Full speech: Mark Carney elected Canadian prime minister

Former central banker Mark Carney will become Canada’s next prime minister after the governing Liberal Party elected him its leader Sunday as the country deals with U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war and annexation threat, and a federal election looms.

Carney, 59, replaces Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who announced his resignation in January but remains prime minister until his successor is sworn in in the coming days. Carney won in a landslide, winning 85.9% of the vote.

“There is someone who is trying to weaken our economy,” Carney said. “Donald Trump, as we know, has put unjustified tariffs on what we build, on what we sell and how we make a living. He's attacking Canadian families, workers and businesses and we cannot let him succeed and we won't.”

Carney said Canada will keep retaliatory tariffs in place until “the Americans show us respect.”

“We didn’t ask for this fight. But Canadians are always ready when someone else drops the gloves,” Carney said. “The Americans, they should make no mistake, in trade, as in hockey, Canada will win."

Carney navigated crises when he was the head of the Bank of Canada and when in 2013 he became the first noncitizen to run the Bank of England since it was founded in 1694. His appointment won bipartisan praise in the U.K. after Canada recovered from the 2008 financial crisis faster than many other countries.

The opposition Conservatives hoped to make the election about Trudeau, whose popularity declined as food and housing prices rose and immigration surged.

Trump’s trade war and his talk of making Canada the 51st U.S. state have infuriated Canadians, who are booing the American anthem at NHL and NBA games. Some are canceling trips south of the border, and many are avoiding buying American goods when they can.

The surge in Canadian nationalism has bolstered the Liberal Party’s chances in a parliamentary election expected within days or weeks, and Liberal showings have been improving steadily in opinion polls.

“The Americans want our resources, our water, our land, our country. Think about it. If they succeed they would destroy our way of life,” Carney said. “In America health care is big business. In Canada it is a right.”

Carney said America is “a melting pot. Canada is mosaic," he said. “America is not Canada. And Canada will never, ever will be a part of America in any way, shape or form."

[mrfloydp]

Why is it NOT fair to have reciprocal tariffs? The neocons are gone. Back to FAIR trade, not free trade.

[MJ-vleu]

Being chosen by the current government doesn't equate to being elected.

[Slavic-King]

This clown wasnt even ELECTED. We never even voted! Canadians, we have sealed our fate.

[dondew]

Should we presume Canadians have lost their vote? Prayers for Canada.

[brianfuller]

I'm Canadian and let's answer the question Americans are asking . Canadians should be asking that question as well. Did Canadians vote? Nooo. Carney was selected, not elected. But Carney and the Liberal Party will lose in the actual election

[GrfKvlt]

That would be awful not being able to vote for your leader.

[sharonwilliams]

Let's be clear so that US citizens don't get confused about how Canadian leaders get elected to become Prime Minister! First, when a current leader steps aside or is rejected in a national election, the successor is ELECTED BY THE CANDIDATE'S PARTY and is only valid until the next national election occurs.
National elections must be held no later than the previous national election was held.
The person who takes a leadership of the interim time is the one who wins the party's vote.

[jensingerlady]

Why are Canadians getting sucked into the same kind of opposition bashing that happens here in the US? Just concentrate on your own positive assets, and let the opposition do the same. Stop party bashing, be the best and you will deserve the votes.

[drover]

Canadians would be better off with Art Carney.

[therewasnocollision]

So they replaced Trudeau with OtherTrudeau 😂

[neilchamberlain]

Please My friend's do not buy into this bs.

[joellandschoot]

Any Canadians here that remember the moon the balloon thing? Y’all should do that again, maybe this time write one of the tariffs Canada has on American products on your butt so we can all be on the same page regarding trade.

[fredgarvinMP]

Don't hesitate to use the thumbs down button.

[MsCece]

Reciprocal taxes on Canada. Up to 600% like some of our goods. It's only fair.

[mceltix]

"We didn't ask for this fight!" What?! Canada ALREADY HAS tariffs on American goods, you bozo. Trump is "leveling the playing field". Bozo.

[treadingonthesnake]

Ha Ha Youtbe is not showing the 34K down thumbs.

[tedangle]

SELECTED, NOTelected! Yet another whacked leftie! Pierre Poilievre '25!

[davidlaney]

What a horrible government system...no wonder it's failing...

[paulbullinger]

Canada Will welcome All our democrats with open arms, if you need help moving, call a republican, we will be there for you.

[JustVisiting-qw]

Excuse me? Mark Carney WAS NOT ELECTED Canadian prime minister. He was "chosen" by the Liberal Party to replace Justin Trudeau as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. But since that party is the actual governing party in parliament, that makes Carney the "prime minister-designate", to be sworn in this week as the prime minister. It is important to note that, although it would be perfectly "legal" for him to keep the job without going through a national election, that position would rapidly become untenable, especially since Canada is being attacked and insulted by the United States on an almost daily basis. So he won't have much choice but to ask Canadian voters for a clear mandate. If Mark Carney and the Liberal Party win the coming national election (end of April or start of May), THEN, and only then, will you be able to announce that "Mark Carney was elected prime minister".