CARNEY TAKES OATH AS CANADA’S PRIME MINISTER
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Mark Carney was officially sworn in as Canada’s 24th Prime Minister on Friday, assuming office at a time of heightened tensions with the United States, AFP reports.
His appointment comes in the wake of deteriorating US-Canada relations following President Donald Trump’s return to power.
Carney, strongly backed by the Liberal Party as Justin Trudeau’s successor, is expected to leverage his extensive experience in managing global financial crises to steer Canada through potential trade conflicts.
At 60, Carney is a political newcomer with no prior experience in elected office. However, his leadership will soon be put to the test as Canada heads toward a general election, where US trade relations are likely to be a key issue in the campaign.
Under Trump, the US has imposed heavy tariffs on Canadian imports and repeatedly threatened further trade sanctions, even suggesting that Canada could be annexed by the United States.
Carney, who was sworn in during a ceremony in Ottawa, described Trump’s aggressive stance as one of the most significant challenges Canada has faced in decades.
“Everything in my life has prepared me for this moment,” Carney said Sunday after winning the Liberal Party leadership race.
Before entering politics, Carney had a prominent career as an investment banker and later served as the Governor of the Bank of Canada during the 2008-2009 financial crisis.
He then led the Bank of England during the tumultuous Brexit period. Carney has presented himself as the ideal leader to handle a trade war, positioning Canada’s relationship with the US as one of distrust under Trump’s administration.
Canada’s Foreign Minister, Melanie Jol, indicated that Carney would bring a “new dynamic” to diplomacy, particularly with the US.
Speaking before Carney was sworn in, Joly said she and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is at the G7, were working on setting up a call between Trump and Carney “in the next couple of days.”
Carney’s leadership came at a time when the political landscape in Canada had shifted significantly.
Earlier this year, the Liberal Party was trailing the Conservatives by a considerable margin, but since Trudeau’s announcement of his resignation in January, the race has tightened.
Carney’s public persona as a trustworthy figure capable of standing up to Trump has resonated with many Canadians.
Notably, Carney recently visited a steel plant in Ontario, where he emphasised the importance of Canadian sovereignty in any trade deal with the US.
In distancing himself from his predecessor, Carney has made efforts to appeal to centrist voters, including pledging to address climate change while rejecting Trudeau’s carbon tax on individuals and families.
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